Comprehensively Strengthening the Party’s Work Style Construction Opens a New Realm of Governing the Country Through Governing the Party

To govern the country, one must first govern the Party; only when the Party thrives can the country be strong. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has broken new ground by

治国必先治党，党兴才能国强。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央从制定和落实中央八项规定开局破题，全面加强党的作风建设，为党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革提供了有力保障，开辟了以治党引领治国的新境界。

(I)

（一）

The introduction of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations lifted the curtain on comprehensively strengthening the Party’s work style construction in the New Era, creating a new situation for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party. The intensity, scope, and stringency of the requirements were unprecedented, driving enormous changes in contemporary China. Facts show that once the Eight-Point Regulations were implemented, work style construction was fully activated: Party and government conduct took on a new look, social customs and public sentiment continued to improve, and the Party’s image in the hearts of the people was reshaped. The masses sincerely praised that “the Eight-Point Regulations changed China.”

中央八项规定的出台，掀开了新时代全面加强党的作风建设的序幕，开创了全面从严治党崭新局面，力度之大、领域之广、要求之严前所未有，推动当代中国发生巨大变化。事实表明，八项规定一子落地，作风建设满盘皆活，党风政风焕然一新，社风民风持续向好，党在人民心中的形象实现重塑。人民群众由衷赞叹，“八项规定改变了中国”。

Amid this series of profound transformations, what people feel most deeply is the change in political atmosphere and political ecology. First, politics is clear: General Secretary Xi Jinping, as the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the entire Party, has won the hearts of the Party and the people; the authority of the Party Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership are firmly guaranteed; and the Party’s leadership and ruling position are further consolidated. The national institutional system has become more mature and more定型 [n1], democracy and the rule of law are increasingly perfected, and national political life is both stable and orderly yet full of vitality. Second, official governance is clean: the system of intra-Party regulations is more complete, the Party and state supervision systems are continuously improved, the authority and enforcement capacity of institutions are steadily strengthened, political requirements for Party members and cadres, especially leading cadres, are clearer, the political and organizational functions of Party organizations are reinforced, intra-Party political life is more rigorous and standardized, the intra-Party political ecology is upright and clean, and corruption is effectively curbed. Third, the country prospers: the direction of Party and state development is clear, the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy are advanced in a coordinated manner, various undertakings have opened up new prospects, national economic strength, scientific and technological strength, and comprehensive national power have steadily risen, and international status, international competitiveness, and international influence have continuously increased. Fourth, the people are at ease: the “seven guarantees” of social construction—ensuring children’s education, learning, employment, medical care, elderly care, housing, and support for the vulnerable—are comprehensively promoted, the social security system is increasingly perfected and its level steadily raised, various urgent and difficult problems of the masses are gradually resolved, the sense of gain, happiness, and security continues to strengthen, and the overall social situation remains stable.

在一系列深刻变革中，人们感受最深的是政治风气、政治生态的变化。一是政治明，习近平总书记作为党中央的核心、全党的核心深得党心民心，党中央权威和集中统一领导得到有力保证，党的领导和执政地位得到进一步巩固。国家制度体系更加成熟、更加定型，民主法治日益完善，国家政治生活既安定有序又充满活力。二是吏治清，党内法规体系更加完善，党和国家监督体系不断健全，制度权威性和执行力不断增强，对党员干部特别是领导干部的政治要求更加明确，党组织的政治功能和组织功能得到强化，党内政治生活更加严谨规范，党内政治生态风清气正，腐败现象得到有力整治。三是国家昌，党和国家事业发展方向明确，“五位一体”总体布局和“四个全面”战略布局统筹推进，各项事业发展开创了新局面，国家经济实力、科技实力、综合国力稳步上升，国际地位、国际竞争力、国际影响力不断增强。四是人民安，幼有所育、学有所教、劳有所得、病有所医、老有所养、住有所居、弱有所扶的“七有”社会建设全面推进，社会保障体系日益完善、保障水平稳步提高，人民群众各种急难愁盼问题逐步得到解决，获得感幸福感安全感持续增强，社会大局保持稳定。

Of course, there are still many problems within the Party today. The “four forms of decadence” [n2] still exist to varying degrees and have taken on hidden and mutated forms; corruption has not yet been fundamentally resolved; economic and social development still faces many difficulties; various social contradictions remain numerous; and challenges from the outside are increasingly severe. A distinctive feature of political construction in the New Era is to restore the original and clarify the fundamentals, and to rectify the discipline and purify the rules. This is a strategic move to lay a long-term foundation for the Party and the state and to build a situation of enduring stability. Some Party members and cadres may feel that there are more rules and stricter discipline, and that things are not as comfortable and free as before; some in society may also feel that relying on connections and asking for favors to get things done is no longer so “convenient.” The comfort level of a few cannot represent the happiness of the whole society; rather, we must see whether the broad masses of the people are living comfortably. We cannot only look at whether some people find it convenient to act, but whether the majority find it convenient to handle affairs. The ancients said, “Now tension, now relaxation—such is the way of King Wen and King Wu.” [n3] “Now tension, now relaxation” does not only mean tension at one time and relaxation at another; it more often means having both tension and relaxation, with tension and relaxation complementing each other—tension when tension is needed, relaxation when relaxation is needed. Only when there is tension within the Party can there be relaxation in society; only when Party members and cadres are under tension can the masses be at ease. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized to Party members and cadres: “If we are a little uncomfortable and a little less at ease, the people’s comfort level will be a little better, their satisfaction will be a little higher, and their feelings toward us will be a little better.” [n4] Public servants of the people must worry for the people and serve the people. If Party members and cadres all want to muddle through casually and live comfortably, the common people cannot live comfortably.

当然，当前党内还有不少问题，“四风”问题还不同程度存在且隐形变异，腐败问题尚未得到根本解决，经济社会发展还面临不少难题，各种社会矛盾还不少，来自外部的挑战日益严峻。新时代政治建设的一个显著特点，就是正本清源、整纲肃纪。这是为党和国家立长久之基、建久安之势的战略之举。一些党员干部可能觉得规矩多了、纪律严了，不像过去那样舒服自在了，社会上也会有一些人觉得靠拉关系、请托办事不是那么“方便”了。少数人的舒适度不能代表全社会的幸福度，而是要看广大人民群众是否过得舒心；不能光看一些人行事是否方便，而是要看大多数人办事是否方便。古人讲，“一张一弛，文武之道也”。“一张一弛”，不仅指此时“张”、彼时“弛”，更多的是有张有弛、张弛相济，该“张”则“张”，该“弛”则“弛”。党内“张”，社会才能“弛”；党员干部“张”，人民群众才能“弛”。习近平总书记对党员干部强调，“我们不舒服一点、不自在一点，老百姓的舒适度就好一点、满意度就高一点，对我们的感觉就好一点”。人民公仆，就要为民操心、为民服务。如果党员干部都想随随便便混日子、舒舒服服过日子，老百姓就不可能舒心过日子。

Today’s world is intertwined with turmoil and change. Many Western countries have fallen into political polarization, popular confrontation, social division, and political chaos, while our country enjoys political stability, economic development, social harmony, and popular peace of mind. The “governance of China” stands in sharp contrast to the “cha

当今世界变乱交织，不少西方国家陷入政治极化、民意对抗、社会撕裂、政治混乱的局面，而我国政治稳定、经济发展、社会和谐、人心安定，“中国之治”与“西方之乱”形成鲜明对比。我国作为世界上最大的发展中国家，在世界百年未有之大变局加速演进、各种重大风险挑战接踵而至的情况下，能够保持这种稳定的政治局面和良好的发展态势，非常不易。对此，国际社会也高度认同。

(2)

（二）

Politics is the commander and soul of all work. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes that political issues are fundamental major issues at all times. There are many problems to be handled in governing the country and managing state affairs, but the most important is to handle political relations well and grasp the political direction.

政治是一切工作的统帅和灵魂。习近平总书记强调，政治问题，任何时候都是根本性的大问题。治国理政需要处理好的问题很多，最重要的是处理好政治上的关系，把握好政治方向。

Building the Party well, making it stronger and more resilient, and ensuring that the Party leads the people in governing the country well is the greatest political logic of the New Era. Since the founding of New China, our Party has continuously explored and practiced in handling the relationship between governing the Party and governing the country, accumulating rich experience, but also experiencing deviations of one kind or another, such as overemphasizing politics while neglecting economic work, or excessively pursuing economic development while relaxing political discipline. Practice warns us that we can neither engage in empty political talk divorced from economic development nor simply pursue economic development while setting aside politics. If politics is not handled well, economic development cannot be sustained, and the achievements already made will be lost. The root cause of why some developing countries have fallen into the “middle-income trap” [n] lies in the failure to straighten out political relations. When political order is lost, state governance becomes a tangled mess, and development is affected. History shows that only when the political direction is clear, the political path is firm, political requirements are explicit, and the political atmosphere is clean and upright can economic and social development have a reliable guarantee, and the country prosper and enjoy long-term stability and security.

把党建设好、建设得更加坚强有力，保证党领导人民把国家治理好，是新时代最大的政治逻辑。新中国成立以来，我们党在处理治党与治国关系问题上不断探索实践，积累了丰富的经验，但也有过这样那样的偏差，如过于强调政治而忽视经济工作，或者过于追求经济发展而放松了政治。实践告诫我们，既不能离开经济发展去空谈政治，也不能撇开政治去单纯追求经济发展。政治搞不好，经济发展不可能持续，已经取得的成就也会丧失掉。一些发展中国家之所以陷入“中等收入陷阱”，究其根源，在于政治上的关系没有理顺。政治失序，国家治理就会一团乱麻，发展就会受到影响。历史表明，政治方向明确，政治道路坚定，政治要求明晰，政治风气清朗，经济社会发展才能有可靠保障，国家才能兴旺发达、长治久安。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has incorporated comprehensive and strict governance of the Party into the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, emphasizing that the great struggle, the great project, the great cause, and the great dream are closely linked, mutually interpenetrating, and mutually reinforcing, among which the decisive factor is the great new project of Party building, and has clarified the general requirements for Party building in the New Era, pointing the direction for our Party to handle the relationship between governing the Party and governing the country.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央把全面从严治党纳入“四个全面”战略布局，强调伟大斗争、伟大工程、伟大事业、伟大梦想，紧密联系、相互贯通、相互作用，其中起决定性作用的是党的建设新的伟大工程，并明确了新时代党的建设总要求，为我们党处理好治党与治国的关系指明了方向。

The fundamental principle of governing the country through governing the Party lies in comprehensively strengthening the Party’s leadership over all work, and the key lies in the Party supervising itself and governing itself comprehensively and strictly. An important lever for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party is the construction of the Party’s work style. The construction of the Party’s work style is not the entirety of Party building, but it touches on all aspects of Party building. The ideals and convictions of Party members and cadres, Party spirit, awareness of the Party’s purpose, original aspiration and founding mission, discipline and rules, and the fight against corruption and promotion of integrity are all contents of work style construction. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, our Party has started from work style construction, comprehensively promoting strictness in politics, ideology, cadre management, work style, discipline enforcement, institutions, and anti-corruption, creating a favorable environment for the development of the Party’s and the country’s undertakings.

以治党引领治国，根本在于全面加强党对一切工作的领导，关键在党要管党、全面从严治党。全面从严治党，一个重要抓手就是党的作风建设。党的作风建设不是党的建设的全部，但涉及党的建设的方方面面，党员干部的理想信念、党性修养、宗旨意识、初心使命、纪律规矩、反腐倡廉等，都是作风建设的内容。党的十八大以来，我们党从作风建设抓起，全面推进政治从严、思想从严、治吏从严、作风从严、执纪从严、制度从严、反腐从严，为党和国家事业发展创造了良好环境。

Strengthening the construction of the Party’s work style in the New Era is not a matter of general and vague efforts, but rather highlighting the focus on Party members and cadres and grasping the key of leading cadres. In particular, starting from the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, it has set an example for the entire Party and established credibility in the whole society. Since ancient times, governing the country and managing state affairs has always begun with governing officials and focused on governing officials. The New Era is no exception. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “The key to strict governance of the Party is strict governance of officials.” The vast majority of Party members and cadres are the executors of the Party’s theories, lines, principles, and policies, and the main force of state governance. When the ideological style, study style, work style, leadership style, and lifestyle of Party members and cadres are improved, the implementation of the Party’s theories, lines, principles, and policies and the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, the conduct of all Party and state work, and national development and social governance will have a reliable guarantee.

新时代加强党的作风建设，也不是笼而统之、泛泛地抓，而是突出党员干部这个重点、抓住领导干部这个关键。特别是从中央政治局做起，为全党作出了示范，在全社会树立起了信誉。自古以来，治国理政首在治吏、重在治吏。新时代也不例外。习近平总书记指出，“从严治党，关键是从严治吏”。广大党员干部是党的理论和路线方针政策的执行者，是国家治理的主力军。把党员干部的思想作风、学风、工作作风、领导作风、生活作风搞好了，党的理论和路线方针政策、党中央决策部署的贯彻落实，党和国家各项工作的开展，国家发展和社会治理等，就有了可靠保障。

For some time, due to ineffective and lax governance of the Party, problems within the Party have accumulated more and more, especially the problem of the “seven dos and don’ts” [1]1 The “middle-income trap” refers to a situation in which an economy that has reached middle-income levels is unable to transition to high-income status due to rising costs and declining competitiveness, often accompanied by social instability and institutional dysfunction., which has seriously affected the Party’s image and prestige, seriously eroded the Party’s healthy organism, and seriously damaged relations between the Party and the people and between cadres and the masses. The more serious the problem, the more necessary it is to “use heavy measures to reverse an extremely grave situation.” In the New Era, the severity of governing officials is unprecedented, and the results are also very significant. In recent years, people have clearly felt that the Party Central Committee’s orders and prohibitions are being carried out more smoothly, that Party committees and governments at all levels have significantly enhanced their consciousness in implementing the Party Central Committee’s decisions and deployments, and that the awareness of the vast majority of Party members and cadres in observing rules and discipline, performing duties according to law, seeking truth from facts, and starting undertakings has significantly increased. When relations between government and business are clean, the political ecosystem increasingly becomes upright and clear.

一段时间以来，由于管党不力、治党不严，党内存在的问题越积越多，特别是“七个有之”问题，严重影响党的形象和威信，严重侵蚀党的健康肌体，严重损害党群干群关系。问题越严重，越需要“从重以挽极重之势”。新时代，治吏之重是前所未有的，效果也是非常显著的。这些年来，人们明显感到，党中央令行禁止更加顺畅，各级党委和政府贯彻落实党中央决策部署的自觉性显著增强，广大党员干部遵规守纪、依法履职、求真务实、干事创业的意识显著增强，政商关系清爽了，政治生态就越来越风清气正了。

Opposing corruption is the most arduous task in strengthening Party building, and it is also the most thorough self-revolution. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, our Party has had the courage to carry out self-revolution, resolutely punishing corruption with thunderous means, insisting that wherever there is corruption it must be opposed, wherever there is graft it must be eliminated, and insisting on no forbidden zones, full coverage, and zero tolerance. No matter how high an official’s rank or position, as long as illegal or disciplinary violations or acts of graft and bribery are discovered, they must be punished. With such resolute and thorough anti-corruption efforts, which dynasty in history could achieve this? Some say that the intensity of anti-corruption in contemporary China “cannot be found even after

反对腐败是加强党的建设最艰巨的任务，也是最彻底的自我革命。党的十八大以来，我们党勇于进行自我革命，以雷霆手段坚决惩治腐败，坚持有腐必反、有贪必肃，坚持无禁区、全覆盖、零容忍，不管官多大、地位有多高，只要违法乱纪、贪赃枉法行为被发现，就要受到惩处。这样坚决而彻底的反腐，历史上又有哪个朝代能做到？有人说，当下中国的反腐力度，“读遍二十四史都找不到”。

In the New Era, through comprehensively strengthening the Party’s work style construction and continuously and deeply advancing comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, China has ushered in a vibrant situation of peace, prosperity, and good governance. The entire Party and society have increasingly come to realize that only by first managing and governing the Party well can the people be led to govern the country well. Comprehensive and strict governance of the Party is not a slogan, but a concrete action; it is not a stopgap measure to be pursued intermittently, but a strategic move; it is not merely a matter within the Party or a task in the field of Party building, but a major issue concerning the overall strategy of the Party’s leadership and the governance of the country, and concerning the great cause of building a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

新时代通过全面加强党的作风建设、持续深入推进全面从严治党，我国迎来了河清海晏、繁荣昌盛的生动局面。全党全社会越来越认识到，只有首先把党管好治好，才能领导人民把国家治理好。全面从严治党不是口号，而是实实在在的行动；不是抓一阵松一阵的权宜之计，而是战略之举；不仅是党内的事或党建领域的工作，而且是事关党的领导和治国理政战略全局，事关强国建设、民族复兴伟业的大事。

(III)

（三）

The Party’s work style is a comprehensive reflection of various internal factors of the Party itself. If the Party’s work style deteriorates, it will loosen the Party, destroy confidence, and scatter popular support. The ideas and measures of the Party Central Committee on promoting the in-depth development of the Party’s work style construction have been clarified; the key lies in implementation and perseverance. From a long-term perspective, efforts must focus on solving three major issues.

党的作风是党的自身各方面因素的综合反映。党的作风变差，就会把党搞松散了，把信心搞没了，把人心搞散了。党中央关于推动党的作风建设向纵深发展的思路和举措已经明确，关键在落实、在持之以恒。从长远看，要着力解决好三个方面的重大问题。

First, the problem of becoming detached from the masses after holding power. General

一是执政后脱离群众的问题。习近平总书记强调，我们党来自人民、植根人民、服务人民，党的最大政治优势是密切联系群众，党执政后的最大危险是脱离群众。党执政时间长了，一些人慢慢忘记了人民在国家和政权建设中的主体地位，忘了国家一切权力属于人民，导致一些领导干部“由社会公仆变为社会主人”；一些人淡化了为人民服务的宗旨意识，把群众当作管理对象而不是服务的对象，甚至颐指气使、作威作福；一些地方和部门热衷于打造领导“可视范围”内的项目工程，却往往忽视了群众是否得到实惠；等等。江山就是人民，人民就是江山。脱离人民群众，就等于自断根系、自绝生路。久而久之，终有一天江山还会失去。要通过思想教育、纪律建设和体制机制建设等多方面共同发力，使党员干部始终保持同人民群众的血肉联系，厚植党长期执政的根基。

Second, the problem of corruption after coming to power. Corruption is the greatest threat facing our Party. Power is the greatest corrosive agent; power that is not supervised inevitably leads to corruption. Strictly governing officials is, in essence, strictly governing power. Especially under the conditions of a market economy, all power, along with the status, reputation, influence, etc., associated with it, can be transformed through market exchange into disposable and circulable real wealth. Our Party faces the “four major tests” [n2] of the test of governance, the test of reform and opening up, the test of the market economy, and the test of the external environment. Among these, the test of the market economy is one of the most complex tests. It is necessary to scientifically allocate power, strictly restrict and supervise power, and ensure that Party members, cadres, and public officials exercise power impartially, in accordance with the law, for the people, and with integrity, preventing power from being alienated into a tool for certain individuals or interest groups to seek private gain.

二是掌权后的腐败问题。腐败是我们党面临的最大威胁。权力是最大的腐蚀剂，不受监督的权力必然导致腐败。从严治吏，本质上是从严治权。特别是在市场经济条件下，一切权力以及与权力相关联的地位、名望、影响力等都可以通过市场交换变为可支配、可流通的现实财富。我们党面临的执政考验、改革开放考验、市场经济考验、外部环境考验这“四大考验”。其中，市场经济考验是最复杂的考验之一。必须科学配置权力，从严制约和监督权力，确保党员干部和公职人员公正用权、依法用权、为民用权、廉洁用权，防止权力异化为某些人、某些利益集团谋私的工具。

Third, the problem of mental slackening after prolonged peace. This mainly concerns preventing the weakening of revolutionary will, the decline of Party spirit cultivation, and the erosion of the spirit of struggle. “Luxury and waste mark the beginning of danger and ruin.” [n3] After prolonged peace, as living conditions get better and better, some Party members and cadres begin to focus on enjoyment, losing the enterprising spirit of continuing arduous struggle; some Party members and cadres become more selfish, focusing on seeking benefits and leaving a way out for themselves; some Party members and cadres have a weaker sense of discipline, treating Party rules and discipline as a “scarecrow” [n4] and becoming “accustomed to” various violations of rules and discipline; and so on. Conduct and corruption are one and the same. Once the ideological defense line relaxes, work style will deteriorate, and corruption will follow. In particular, the weakening of the revolutionary spirit and the spirit of struggle among Party members and cadres can lead to the degeneration of the national spirit. It is necessary to take a long-term view, address both symptoms and root causes, and make persistent efforts to achieve lasting results. When work style construction is grasped tightly and well, it can also effectively prevent corruption.

三是承平日久后的精神懈怠问题。主要是防止革命意志弱化、党性修养减退、奋斗精神削弱等问题。“奢靡之始，危亡之渐。”承平日久，生活条件越来越好，一些党员干部就开始注重享受了，丧失了继续艰苦奋斗的进取精神；一些党员干部私心就多了，注重为自己谋利益、留后路；一些党员干部的纪律意识就淡了，把党规党纪当作“稻草人”，对各种违规违纪行为“安之若素”；等等。风腐一体。思想防线松下来，作风就会变坏，随之而来的就是腐败。尤其是党员干部的革命精神、奋斗精神淡化了，会导致民族精神的退化。必须着眼长远、标本兼治，持之以恒、久久为功。作风建设抓得紧、抓得好，也能有效预防腐败。

Leading great social revolution through great self-revolution runs through the entire process of the Party’s governance. The Party’s work style construction is always on the way, with a heavy responsibility and a long road ahead. We must always maintain a high degree of consciousness in leading social revolution through the Party’s self-revolution, firmly grasp the political logic and practical logic of “governing the country through governing the Party,” consolidate and expand the achievements of the Party’s work style construction in the New Era, promote the normalization and long-term effectiveness of the Party’s work style construction, ensure that the entire Party and the whole society maintain a united and uplifting mental state, and make unremitting efforts to comprehensively advance the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization.

以伟大自我革命引领伟大社会革命贯穿党执政的全过程，党的作风建设永远在路上，任重而道远。要始终保持以党的自我革命引领社会革命的高度自觉，牢牢把握“以治党引领治国”这一政治逻辑和实践逻辑，巩固拓展新时代党的作风建设成果，推动党的作风建设常态化、长效化，使全党全社会始终保持团结一致、奋发向上的精神状态，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业而不懈奋斗。

(The author is Deputy Director of the Central Policy Research Office)

（作者系中央政策研究室副主任）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心