A Scholarly Explanation of How the Eight-Point Regulations Changed China

I. Problem Statement and Literature Review

一、问题提出与文献综述

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, based on a profound sense of responsibility for the Party’s historical mission, a clear understanding of the current state of Party building, and a positive response to the expectations of the people, formulated and implemented the “Eight-Point Regulations of the Political Bureau of the 18th Central Committee on Improving Work Style and Maintaining Close Ties with the Masses” (hereinafter referred to as the Central Eight-Point Regulations). By an act of establishing credibility through a tangible move [n], it brought about a completely new atmosphere in Party conduct, government conduct, and social conduct, winning the trust and support of the people. To this day, the Eight-Point Regulations have become a proper noun for work style improvement and a “golden business card” for governing the Party and running it strictly. They refer not only to the Central Eight-Point Regulations as a creative institutional arrangement for improving work style and maintaining close ties with the masses, but also to the specific norms for the behavioral boundaries of Party cadres and members, the operation of power, and the use of public funds constructed by the entire Party in implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations. The Eight-Point Regulations have provided institutional support and practical guidance for reshaping the political ecosystem in contemporary China, initiating a self-revolution of profound historical significance in the New Era, and profoundly changing China. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee [n] clearly stated, “Persevere in implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations, and improve the institutional mechanisms for preventing and correcting formalism and bureaucratism” [1]1 The reference is to the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, held in July 2024, which focused on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization.P45. To persevere in implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations and to unremittingly promote the normalization and long-term effectiveness of work style improvement, it is necessary to deeply analyze the underlying logic and internal mechanisms of how the Eight-Point Regulations changed China and why they could change China, and based on this, explore the practical path for them to become custom and practice.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央基于对党的历史使命的深刻担当、对党的建设现状的清醒认识以及对人民群众期盼的积极回应，制定并实施《十八届中央政治局关于改进工作作风、密切联系群众的八项规定》（以下简称中央八项规定），以徙木立信之举推动党风政风和社会风气焕然一新，赢得了人民群众信任和拥护。时至今日，八项规定已成为作风建设的专属名词和管党治党的“金色名片”，不仅指作为改进工作作风、密切联系群众的创造性制度安排的中央八项规定，更是指全党贯彻落实中央八项规定精神所建构的党员干部行为边界、权力运行和公费使用等具体规范。八项规定为当代中国政治生态重塑提供了制度支撑与实践遵循，在新时代开启了一场具有深远历史意义的自我革命，深刻地改变了中国。党的二十届三中全会明确提出“锲而不舍落实中央八项规定精神，健全防治形式主义、官僚主义制度机制”[1]P45。锲而不舍落实中央八项规定精神，驰而不息推进作风建设常态化长效化，需要深刻剖析八项规定如何改变中国、何以改变中国的底层逻辑和内在机制，并基于此探究其如何化风成俗的实践路径。

The academic community has paid continuous attention to the Central Eight-Point Regulations and accumulated rich research results, mainly focusing on the connotation and mechanism of the Central Eight-Point Regulations, their logic of generation, and the practical exploration of implementing their spirit. First, research on the core connotation, main functions, and operational mechanisms of the Central Eight-Point Regulations and their spirit summarizes their core essence as a political symbol of the New Era and a specific discourse of Party building [2]2 “An act of establishing credibility through a tangible move” (徙木立信) refers to a story from the ancient Chinese legalist Shang Yang, who, to demonstrate the trustworthiness of his new laws, offered a reward for moving a log, thereby establishing his credibility with the people., elaborates on their functions in practice, such as the self-innovation of individual Party members and organizational behavior, the shaping of the political ecosystem [3]3 “One move on the board, the whole game comes alive” (一子落地，满盘皆活) is a Chinese idiom from the game of Go, meaning a single decisive action can revitalize an entire situation., ensuring the normalization of Party spirit education [4]4 The “Four Forms of Decadence” (四风) refers to formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, which were the primary targets of the work style rectification campaign initiated by the Eight-Point Regulations., and consolidating political power. Through in-depth investigation and empirical condensation of their implementation practice, it discusses from both theoretical and practical aspects how they exert institutional effectiveness [5]5 “A tiger wanting to eat the sky, not knowing where to bite first” (老虎吃天不知从哪儿下口) is a Chinese proverb describing a situation where a task is so large or complex that one does not know where to begin. and promote new achievements in work style improvement. However, the scholarly explanation of how the Eight-Point Regulations could become a political symbol of the New Era and a specific discourse of Party building, and how they evolved from self-restraint clauses to institutional norms for governing the Party and running it strictly, and then to a force leading social conduct change—that is, how they changed China—still needs further deepening. Second, research on the logic of the generation of the Central Eight-Point Regulations systematically elaborates on the basic conditions for their emergence and the internal motivations for reform and innovation [7]7 “Encirclement and hunting” (围猎) is a metaphor used in Chinese political discourse to describe the process by which private interests use gifts, banquets, and other favors to systematically corrupt and capture public officials. from aspects such as theoretical basis, historical evolution, practical requirements, cultural genes, and strategic needs [6]6 The “Four Forms of Decadence” (四风) refers to formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, which were the targets of a major Party rectification campaign launched after the 18th National Congress in 2012.. However, it focuses more on the preconditions of the Central Eight-Point Regulations. The scholarly explanation of how they utilized the truth power endowed by theory and the personality power endowed by the Party’s fine traditions, broke through governance dilemmas through institutional breakthroughs and top-down hierarchical transmission, achieving the effect of “one move on the board, the whole game comes alive” [n]—that is, the internal logic of why the Eight-Point Regulations could change China—needs further improvement. Third, research on the normalization and long-term effectiveness of work style improvement proposes implementation countermeasures from micro-level aspects such as rectifying the “Four Forms of Decadence” [n], special rectification campaigns, study and education, strengthening implementation, and institutional supply [8]8 The “Four Forms of Decadence” (四风) refers to formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance., and offers constructive practical guidance from methodological levels such as systematic thinking [9]9 “Moving a log to win trust” (徙木立信) alludes to a story from the Warring States period in which Shang Yang, a reformer of the State of Qin, ordered a log moved to demonstrate that the government would keep its promises, thereby establishing credibility before implementing new laws., systematic construction, and addressing both symptoms and root causes. Existing research has revealed the theoretical implications and practical guidance of the Central Eight-Point Regulations from multiple dimensions, including their institutional generation, connotation and function, mechanism of action, practical effectiveness, and practical development. However, existing research on the internal mechanism of how the Eight-Point Regulations changed China needs to be deepened. There is an urgent need to further systematically explain the logic of their operation in how they changed China and why they could change China, and to explore how they become custom and practice, promoting the transformation of work style improvement from external constraint to internal self-awareness.

学界对中央八项规定给予持续关注并积累了丰富的研究成果，主要集中在中央八项规定的内涵机制、生成逻辑以及落实中央八项规定精神的实践探索等。其一，对于中央八项规定及其精神的核心内涵、主要功能和运行机制的探究，总结概括其作为新时代政治标识和党建专属话语所蕴含的核心要义[2]，阐述其在实践中的对党员个体和组织行为的自我革新、政治生态型塑[3]、保障党性教育常态化[4]和巩固政权等方面的功能作用，通过对其执行实践的深度考察和经验凝练，从理论和实践两个方面论述其如何发挥制度效能[5]，推进作风建设取得新成效。但对于八项规定如何能够成为新时代政治标识和党建专属话语，如何从自我约束条款到管党治党的制度规范再到引领社会风气变革的演进过程，也即如何改变中国的学理化阐释还需要进一步深化。其二，关于中央八项规定生成逻辑的探究，从理论依据、历史演进、实践要求、文化基因以及战略需求[6]等方面系统阐述了其产生的基础条件和改革创新[7]的内在动因。但更加侧重于中央八项规定前置条件的阐述，对于其如何利用理论赋予的真理力量和党的优良传统赋予的人格力量，通过制度破题和自上而下的层级传导，打破治理困境，实现“一子落地，满盘皆活”的内在逻辑，也即八项规定何以改变中国的学理化阐释有待进一步提高。其三，对于作风建设常态化长效化的探索，从纠治“四风”、专项整治、学习教育、强化执行和制度供给[8]等微观层面提出实施对策，从系统思维[9]、体系化建设以及标本兼治等方法论层面提出具有建设性的实践指引。已有研究从中央八项规定的制度生成、内涵功能、作用机制、现实成效以及实践发展等多个维度揭示了中央八项规定的理论意涵和实践遵循。但已有研究对于八项规定改变中国的内在机制研究有待深入，亟须进一步系统阐释其如何改变中国、何以改变中国的作用逻辑，并探究如何化风成俗，推动作风建设从外在约束向内在自觉转变。

II. How Did the Eight-Point Regulations Change China?

二、八项规定如何改变中国？

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core began with the formulation of the Central Eight-Point Regulations, taking work style improvement as the main starting point, setting a benchmark and example for the entire Party. The entire Party deeply implemented the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations, promoting the transformation of intra-Party supervision and behavioral constraints from traditional campaign-style governance to normalization and institutionalization. In the subject dimension, by improving the behavioral norms of Party cadres and members, it gradually broke the path dependence and fixed mindsets formed over a long period, achieving the self-revolution of the governing subject. In the organizational dimension, focusing on the two core areas of power operation and public fund use, it constructed a strict institutional system to prevent the alienation of power, promoting the standardized operation of governing power within the track of the rule of law and the institutional framework. In the social dimension, through the powerful demonstration effect and spillover effect generated during the implementation of its institutions, it constructed a value transmission chain where fine Party conduct leads to clean government conduct, and clean government conduct drives simple folk customs.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央以制定中央八项规定开局，以作风建设为主要抓手，为全党立起标杆、做好榜样；全党深入贯彻落实中央八项规定精神，推动党内监督与行为约束从传统的运动式治理向常态化、制度化转型。在主体维度，通过完善党员干部的行为规范，逐步打破了长期以来形成的路径依赖和思维定式，实现了执政主体的自我革命；在组织维度，聚焦权力运行与公费使用两大核心领域，构建起一套严密的制度体系以防范权力异化，推动执政权力在法治轨道与制度框架内规范运行；在社会维度，凭借其制度执行过程中产生的强大示范效应与溢出效应，构建起优良党风引领清明政风、清明政风带动淳朴民风的价值传导链条。

(I) Improving the Behavioral Norms of Party Cadres and Members

（一）完善党员干部的行为规范

As the entry point and mobilization order for improving work style in the New Era, the Central Eight-Point Regulations successfully solved the problem of “a tiger wanting to eat the sky, not knowing where to bite first” [n], improved the behavioral norms of Party cadres and members in political life, and through strict adherence to political behavioral norms, gradually broke outdated thinking patterns and behavioral inertia, actively abandoned unreasonable vested interests, and achieved the self-revolution of the governing subject. At the level of the political party organization, Party cadres are the behavioral subjects of the Party’s cause and the core bearers of the Party’s governing power. The Party’s program, line, and policies need to be transformed from written provisions into practical practice through the specific actions of Party cadres and members. Therefore, the work style of Party cadres and members is not only an external manifestation of individual behavior and Party spirit, but also, as members of the Party organization, their behavioral style more reflects the Party’s style and concerns the image of the ruling party. For the ruling party, “to govern the Party, the most crucial issue is the cadre issue” [10]10 A classical Chinese saying from the Han dynasty scholar Ban Gu's *Book of Han*, meaning that the behavior of those in high positions shapes the customs of those below.P328. By formulating and improving institutional mechanisms to regulate and constrain the behavior of Party cadres and members, as far as possible to avoid behavioral disorder among leading cadres, political behavior always follows certain political ethical norms and political operational rules. The regulation of the political behavior of leading cadres is also a constraint on the certain political power granted to them, clarifying the boundaries of power operation and preventing the self-expansion of public power. “Work style improvement is a process of correcting improper behavior of Party cadres and members, and its essence is the supervision and restriction of power operation.” [11]11 "Three Meetings and One Lesson" (三会一课) refers to the system of holding regular branch committee meetings, branch general meetings, group meetings, and Party lessons. As the ruling party, leading cadres are the specific carriers for realizing the Party’s governing power; they themselves bear a certain political power and have a certain degree of支配权 (power of disposition) in the governance practice and political operation of the Party and the state. At the level of Party and state governance practice, starting from improving the behavioral norms of cadres and members in political activities, highlighting political standards and political requirements, and strictly enforcing political discipline and political rules, the essence is the restriction and supervision of power operation. After the 18th National Congress, facing a series of prominent contradictions and problems accumulated over a long period and newly emerging within the Party, especially the negative effects of the market economy and the prevalence of consumerism leading to repeated prohibitions of hedonism and extravagance, and the relatively serious phenomenon of privilege thinking and privilege among the group of Party cadres and members, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core decided to start Party building by grasping work style improvement, and to start work style improvement by formulating and implementing the Central Eight-Point Regulations, taking a key step in the revolutionary forging of the entire Party. The Party Central Committee and relevant departments formulated a series of institutional norms around implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations, establishing behavioral norms for official receptions, travel, official vehicles, meetings and training, subsidies and allowances, weddings and funerals, etc., in line with the development trends of the New Era society and political value requirements. They required Party cadres and members to change some ingrained bad thinking patterns and behavioral habits, abandon some improper vested interests, and effectively maintain social fairness and justice.

中央八项规定作为新时代改进作风的切入口和动员令，成功解决了“老虎吃天不知从哪儿下口”的问题，完善了党员干部在政治生活中的行为规范，通过严格遵循政治行为规范，逐步打破陈旧思维模式与行为惯性，主动摒弃不合理的既得利益，实现了执政主体的自我革命。在政党组织层面，党的干部是党的事业的行为主体，是党执政权力运行的核心承载者，党的纲领、路线和政策方针从书面条文转化为现实实践需要党员干部的具体行为推动。因此，党员干部的作风不仅仅是个体行为和党性的外在呈现，同时作为党组织的一员，其行为作风更多反映的是党的作风，关系执政党的形象。对执政党来说，“党要管党，最关键的是干部问题”[10]P328，通过制定和完善制度机制对党员干部行为施以规范约束，尽可能规避领导干部的行为失序，使政治行为始终遵循一定的政治伦理规范和政治运行规则。对于领导干部政治行为的行为规制，也是对其被授予的一定政治权力的制约，明确了权力运行边界，防止公权力的自我膨胀。“作风建设是对党员干部不当行为进行纠偏的过程，其本质是对权力运行的监督和制约。”[11]作为执政党，领导干部是党的执政权实现的具体载体，其本身是一定政治权力的承载，在党和国家治理实践和政治运行中具有一定的支配权。在党和国家治理实践层面上，从完善政治活动中党员干部的行为规范入手，突出政治标准和政治要求，严明政治纪律和政治规矩，实质是对权力运行的制约监督。党的十八大后，面对党内一系列长期积累及新出现的突出矛盾和问题，尤其是市场经济的负面效应和消费主义盛行带来的享乐主义和奢靡之风屡禁不止，党员干部群体中的特权思想和特权现象较为严重，以习近平同志为核心的党中央决定，抓党的建设从抓作风建设切入起步，抓作风建设从制定落实中央八项规定开局破题，迈出了对全党进行革命性锻造的关键一步。党中央和有关部门围绕落实中央八项规定精神制定一系列制度规范，对公务接待、差旅、公务用车、会议培训、津贴补贴以及婚丧喜庆等方面制定符合新时代社会发展趋势和政治价值要求的行为规范，要求党员干部改变一些固有的不良思维方式和行为习惯，摒弃一些不当的既得利益，有力维护了社会公平正义。

(II) Improving Institutional Norms to Prevent the Alienation of Public Power

（二）健全防范公权异化的制度规范

The Party’s strength comes from the people, and its foundation lies in the people. Party organizations at all levels focus on the restraint of public power and the regulation of public expenditure, constructing a rigorous institutional system to prevent the alienation of power, ensuring that power operates in an orderly manner within the framework of law-based governance, and always adhering to the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Public funds belong to the public; not a single cent may be spent carelessly; public power serves the people; not a single iota may be used for private gain.”[12]12 The citation format [24]P318 refers to page 318 of source 24 in the original Chinese article’s bibliography, which is not reproduced here.P36-37 For Party cadres and members, the problem of the “Four Forms of Decadence”[6]6 The “Four Forms of Decadence” (四风) refers to formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, which were the targets of a major Party rectification campaign launched after the 18th National Congress in 2012. is not merely an issue of individual worldview, outlook on life, and values; it is an external manifestation of the alienation of power, a plundering and exploitation of social resources by the specific subjects exercising political power through that power, a deviation from the Party’s nature and purpose, damaging the Party’s image, corroding the Party’s body, and eroding the Party’s foundation. As a political party organization, the Communist Party of China’s leadership and governing power are granted by the people; the Party is the representative and defender of the fundamental interests of the broadest majority of the people. However, in practical operation, power cannot be separated from the two carriers of the individual and the organization. Because individuals possess the dual nature of self-interest and altruism, an imbalance in the tension between these two inevitably leads to problems of power alienation such as absence, misplacement, or overstepping. “In pursuit of their own special interests, they have changed from servants of society into masters of society,”[13]13 A four-character idiom meaning "to exert a subtle, transforming influence on someone's character, thinking, or behavior."P110 turning into the opposite of society. In political practice, the imbalance in the tension between individual self-interest and altruism includes both the ideological problem of the subject’s loss of ideals and beliefs and the problem of external “encirclement and hunting,”[7]7 “Encirclement and hunting” (围猎) is a metaphor used in Chinese political discourse to describe the process by which private interests use gifts, banquets, and other favors to systematically corrupt and capture public officials. but more often it is the institutional deficiency in power operation that leads to insufficient strength in checking and supervising power. Popular support is the greatest politics; the people are the greatest source of confidence for our Party in exercising governance. “As a political organization, a political party must be based on gaining the people’s recognition, and its work style largely determines whether it can win the people’s support and endorsement.”[14]14 A term meaning "power to move or inspire," often used in the context of cultural or artistic influence. In implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations, the Party Central Committee and relevant departments have issued a series of institutional regulations in areas such as combating formalities and bureaucracy, official housing, vehicle use, receptions and travel, gifts and cash gifts, subsidies and allowances, and financial management. The essence of these is to check and supervise the two key links of power operation and public finance, to clarify the boundaries of power operation and fund use, to rectify the problem of power alienation, and to implement strict budget control, fiscal transparency, and internal control systems. This has tightened fiscal discipline, strictly controlled general expenditures, resolutely corrected the arbitrary investment and spending behaviors of government departments, effectively corrected many deeply entrenched “unhealthy tendencies and evil practices” from the past, optimized the reasonable and lawful allocation of government expenditure, improved the efficiency of public fund use, ensured that political power operates in a standardized manner within the legal track, and provided organizational guarantees for the systematic optimization of the political ecosystem within the Party.

党的力量来自人民，根基在人民，各级党组织聚焦于公权力的约束与公费使用的规范，构建起一套严密的制度体系以防范权力异化，确保权力在法治框架内有序运行，始终坚持全心全意为人民服务的根本宗旨。习近平总书记强调：“公款姓公，一分一厘都不能乱花；公权为民，一丝一毫都不能私用”[12]P36-37。对于党员干部而言，“四风”问题不仅仅是个体的世界观、人生观、价值观问题，而是权力异化的外在表征，是权力行使的具体主体借助于政治权力对社会资源的掠夺和剥削，是对党的性质和宗旨的背离，破坏党的形象、腐蚀党的肌体、侵蚀党的基业。作为政党组织，中国共产党的领导权和执政权来源于人民授予，党是最广大人民群众根本利益的代表者和捍卫者。但是，权力在实践运行中离不开个体和组织这两个载体，由于个体存在利己和利他的双重性，二者的张力失衡必然地导致权力缺位、错位或越位等异化问题，“为了追求自己的特殊利益，从社会的公仆变成了社会的主人”[13]P110，走向了社会的反面。在政治实践中，个体利己和利他的张力失衡既有主体理想信念丧失的思想问题，也有外部围猎的问题，而更多的是权力运行的制度性缺失导致对权力制约监督力量不足。民心是最大的政治，人民是我们党执政的最大底气。“政党作为政治组织，必须以获得人民的认同为基础，而其作风怎么样，很大程度上决定着能不能得到人民群众的支持拥护”[14]。围绕落实中央八项规定精神，党中央和有关部门在力戒形式主义、官僚主义，公务用房、用车、接待和差旅，礼品礼金、津贴补贴和经费管理等方面出台一系列制度规定，本质是对权力运行和公共财政这两个关键环节的制约监督，明确权力运行和经费使用的边界，纠治权力异化问题，通过实施严格的预算控制、财政公开和内部控制等制度，严肃财经纪律，严控一般性支出，坚决纠治政府部门任性投资、任意支出行为，有力纠正许多过去积重难返的“歪风邪气”，优化了政府支出的合理合法配置，提高了公共资金的使用效率，使政治权力在法定轨道上合乎规范地运行，为党内政治生态的系统性优化提供了组织保障。

(3) Using Party conduct and government conduct to guide social conduct and public sentiment

（三）以党风政风引领社风民风

Through the powerful demonstration effect and spillover effect generated in the process of institutional implementation, the Central Eight-Point Regulations have achieved a value reconstruction that uses fine Party conduct to lead clean government conduct and uses clean government conduct to drive simple public sentiment. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has adhered to the principle of simultaneously correcting the “Four Forms of Decadence” and fostering new practices, promoting the transformation of outdated customs from the top down, cultivating the political ecosystem, cultural soil, and social customs with fine conduct, and using the completely renewed Party conduct and government conduct to lead profound changes in social conduct and public sentiment. First, efforts have been made to promote the reshaping of Party conduct and government conduct. Party conduct and government conduct, as the external manifestation of the fundamental nature of the Party and the government, are a concentrated display of political ideology and are related to the Party’s creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness. The people are the greatest source of confidence for our Party in exercising governance; separation from the people is the greatest danger after the Party assumes power. Since the implementation of the Central Eight-Point Regulations, from the central leadership taking the lead and setting an example to Party organizations at all levels implementing its spirit and formulating new measures for conduct building suited to their own realities, the construction of a clean Party conduct and clean governance has been advanced in depth. Breaking through specific problems one by one has driven the resolution of problems on a broader scale. The collusion between officials and businessmen and the transfer of benefits have been severely punished, channels for obtaining improper benefits through gift-giving and banquets have been cut off, the space for rent-seeking by power has been strictly limited, and the innovation of behavioral paradigms and the profound shaping of consciousness among Party cadres and members have been promoted. This has driven a deep-level reshaping of values among Party cadres and members, showing what Communists ought to be, and achieving a completely renewed Party conduct and government conduct. Second, it has guided social conduct and public sentiment toward upward and virtuous development. The Party’s leadership is the most essential feature and greatest strength of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Party conduct and government conduct are the beacon for social conduct and public sentiment, capable of exerting a powerful force to unite the hearts of the Party and the people. “The rule of transformation in changing customs is that those above set an example for those below; leading by example is the magic weapon for uniting hearts and gathering strength.”[15] The Eight-Point Regulations are not only a matter of Party building but can also, through the concrete practice of governing the Party strictly and political ideology, radiate and drive social values and social atmosphere. The values of public servant consciousness, mass viewpoint, hard work and plain living, and clean and honest governance advocated by the Eight-Point Regulations unify the truth power embodied in the Party’s correct theory with the personality power embodied in the Party’s fine conduct. This enables the vast majority of Party cadres and members to establish correct values, an outlook on political performance, and a moral outlook deep in their hearts. At the same time, this political ideology will also influence the development of social values and social atmosphere in the concrete practice of governing the Party strictly. The Eight-Point Regulations adhere to the principle of simultaneously correcting the “Four Forms of Decadence” and fostering new practices. By establishing new practices, they strengthen the appeal of mainstream values, guide the formation of a positive, upward, and virtuous social trend, promote the entire people to further establish correct views of public and private, right and wrong, and benefit and righteousness, assist in the construction of socialist cultural-ethical progress, enhance social cohesion and centripetal force, and promote the continuous improvement of social conduct and public sentiment.

中央八项规定凭借其制度执行过程中产生的强大示范效应与溢出效应，实现了以优良党风引领政风清正、以清朗政风带动民风淳朴的价值重构。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央，坚持纠“四风”与树新风并举，自上而下推动移风易俗，以优良作风涵养政治生态、文化土壤和社会风俗，以党风政风焕然一新引领社风民风深刻变革。其一，着力推进党风政风重塑。党风政风作为党和政府根本性质的外在显化，是政治意识形态的集中展现，关系党的创造力、凝聚力和战斗力。人民是我们党执政的最大底气，脱离人民是党执政后的最大危险。中央八项规定实施以来，从中央领导率先垂范到各级党组织贯彻落实其精神，制定符合自身实际的作风建设新举措，纵深推进党风廉政建设，从一个个具体问题突破带动面上问题解决，严厉整治官商勾结、利益输送，切断了通过送礼、宴请等方式获取不正当利益的渠道，严格限制权力寻租空间，推动了党员干部行为范式的革新和意识观念上的深刻塑造，推动党员干部价值观层面的深层重塑，展现出共产党人应有的样子，实现党风政风的焕然一新。其二，引领社风民风，向上向善。党的领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征和最大优势，党风政风是社风民风的引航标，能够发挥凝聚党心民心的强大力量。“上行下效是移风易俗的规律，率先垂范是凝心聚力的法宝”[15]。八项规定不仅是党的自身建设范畴，而且能够通过管党治党的具体实践和政治意识形态对社会价值观念和社会风气产生辐射带动作用。八项规定所提倡的公仆意识、群众观念以及艰苦奋斗、清正廉洁的价值理念，是把党的正确理论所体现的真理力量和党的优良作风所体现的人格力量统一起来，使广大党员干部在内心深处树立起正确的价值观、政绩观和道德观。同时，这种政治意识形态也会在管党治党的具体实践中，影响到社会价值观念和社会风气的发展。八项规定坚持纠“四风”树新风并举，通过树立新风气壮大主流价值感召力，引导积极向上向善的社会风尚的形成，推动全体人民进一步树立正确的公私观、是非观和义利观，助力社会主义精神文明建设，增强社会凝聚力和向心力，推动了社风民风持续向好。

III. How Did the Eight-Point Regulations Change China?

三、八项规定何以改变中国？

As a specific institutional arrangement focused on improving work style and aimed at closely linking the Party with the masses, how did the Central Eight-Point Regulations break through the scope of single-domain governance, produce comprehensive and far-reaching effects, and thus become the key fulcrum for promoting the Party’s self-revolution and historically changing China? The fundamental reason lies in the fact that the Eight-Point Regulations have achieved the organic unity of the Party’s truth power and personality power, concretizing the people-centered value concept into operable daily behavioral norms, and reshaping the emotional identification and behavioral consciousness of Party cadres and members by adhering to and promoting the Party’s fine traditions. Through the governance logic of institutional breakthrough, system construction, and rigid implementation, starting from “key small matters” such as investigation and research, style of meetings and documents, and official travel, a comprehensive and three-dimensional institutional system for conduct building has been constructed. Through strict implementation, the transformation from specific behavioral constraints to improved governance effectiveness has been realized. Through the transmission of hierarchical responsibility pressure and behavioral demonstration, compliance with the regulations has gradually transformed from an external requirement into a behavioral habit of Party cadres and members, providing a solid conduct guarantee for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

中央八项规定作为聚焦工作作风改进、旨在密切党群关系的具体制度安排，何以突破单一领域治理范畴，产生全局性、深远性影响，进而成为推动党的自我革命并历史性改变中国的关键支点？根本原因在于：八项规定实现了党的真理力量与人格力量的有机统一，将人民至上的价值理念具象为可操作的日常行为规范，以坚持发扬党的优良传统重塑党员干部的情感认同与行为自觉；通过制度破题、体系构建与刚性执行的治理逻辑，从调查研究、会风文风、公务出行等“关键小事”切入，构建了全方位、立体化的作风建设制度体系，以严格执行实现从具体行为约束到治理效能提升的转化；通过层级间责任压力和行为示范传导，使遵守规定从外在要求逐步转化为党员干部的行为习惯，为实现中华民族伟大复兴提供了坚实作风保障。

(1) The Unity of Truth Power and Personality Power

（一）真理力量与人格力量相统一

The Central Eight-Point Regulations unify the truth-force embodied in the Party’s correct theory with the personality-force embodied in the Party’s fine conduct, responding to the people’s expectations for a fair, just, clean and efficient governing environment, and translating the grand narrative of putting the people first into the concrete practice of improving work style and maintaining close ties with the masses. By upholding and developing the Party’s fine traditions, they reshape the emotional identification of Party officials and cadres, rendering it concrete through the personified conduct of each Party official and cadre, thereby achieving the unity of theoretical identification, emotional identification and behavioral identification, winning broad social recognition and popular support, and consolidating the social foundation for the Party’s long-term governance. “As a Marxist governing party, our Party must possess not only great truth-force but also great personality-force; truth-force is concentratedly embodied in our Party’s correct theory, and personality-force is concentratedly embodied in our Party’s fine conduct.”[16]P3 After the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core adhered to the fundamental political value of putting the people first, unequivocally stressed that to forge iron, one must be strong oneself, and began by formulating and implementing the Central Eight-Point Regulations as the breakthrough to solve the problem, addressing the question of what to focus on and how to proceed in improving conduct in the New Era. It confronted and resolved, with scientific theoretical guidance and the political courage of self-revolution, prominent problems existing within the Party such as formalism, bureaucratism, privileged thinking and detachment from the masses; upheld the fine conduct of integrating theory with practice, maintaining close ties with the masses, and practicing criticism and self-criticism; promoted the glorious tradition of modesty, prudence, hard work and plain living; and cultivated a new and healthy atmosphere of seeking truth from facts and being honest and upright.

中央八项规定把党的正确理论所体现的真理力量和党的优良作风所体现的人格力量相统一，回应了人民群众对公平正义、廉洁高效执政环境的期待，将人民至上的宏大叙事落实为改进工作作风、密切联系群众的细微实践；以坚持和发扬党的优良传统重塑党员干部的情感认同，通过每个党员干部的人格化行为予以具象化，实现了理论认同、情感认同与行为认同的统一，赢得了广泛的社会认同与群众支持，为党的长期执政夯实了社会基础。“我们党作为马克思主义执政党，不但要有强大的真理力量，而且要有强大的人格力量；真理力量集中体现为我们党的正确理论，人格力量集中体现为我们党的优良作风。”[16]P3党的十八大后，以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚持人民至上的根本政治价值，旗帜鲜明地强调打铁还需自身硬，从制定和落实中央八项规定开局破题，解决了新时代作风建设抓什么、怎么抓的问题；以科学的理论指导和自我革命的政治勇气正视并着力解决党自身存在的形式主义、官僚主义、特权思想以及脱离群众等突出问题，坚持理论联系实际、密切联系群众、批评和自我批评的优良作风，弘扬谦虚谨慎、艰苦奋斗的光荣传统，涵养求真务实、清正廉洁的新风正气。

Truth-force originates from Marxism and its correct theory as adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, correctly revealing the objective laws of social development and providing scientific methods for understanding and transforming the world. It is the Party’s ideological cornerstone and guide to action, endowing the Party with strong persuasive power, leading power and combat effectiveness, and providing for the Party’s governance and discipline in the New Era “a clear development direction, orderly development space and standardized action logic.”[17] People-centeredness is the essential attribute of Marxism, and the people’s standpoint is the fundamental standpoint of Marxism. The Central Eight-Point Regulations adhere to putting the people first, firmly grasp the fundamental question of “for whom,” and, based on the principled requirement of always representing the fundamental interests of the broadest majority of the Chinese people, naturally occupy the high ground of truth and morality, possessing indisputable legitimacy and the right to speak on Party governance and discipline in the New Era, thereby enabling them to win the heartfelt support of the people. The Eight-Point Regulations impose constraints on the individual conduct of Party officials and cadres, the exercise of public power, and the use of public finances, maintaining a high-pressure stance of zero tolerance toward conduct that harms the people’s interests, focusing on rectifying the bad practices and deep-seated ills that affect the people’s comfort and satisfaction, and forcefully correcting the various forms of “formalism” that existed in the past. Their fundamental purpose is to prevent harm to the people’s interests and ensure that power always serves the people. Precisely because the Eight-Point Regulations are deeply rooted in the people and reflect the people’s will, they have been able to gain the people’s support, providing an inexhaustible driving force for their widespread implementation and sustained effectiveness. Theory and conduct, truth and personality, are like the two wheels of a cart or the two wings of a bird. If there is truth but no personality, theory becomes hollow and powerless; if there is personality but no truth, action loses its direction. The Eight-Point Regulations are not only the codified rules and prohibitions that concretize the demands of truth-force, but also the concrete norms for the external manifestation of personality-force in the conduct and style of Party officials and cadres. The close integration of the two has turned the truth-force of the Party’s correct theory and the personality-force of the Party’s fine conduct in the New Era into a series of visible and tangible practical actions—such as rectifying the “Four Forms of Decadence”[n8], going down to the grassroots, and being honest and upright—making abstract theories and fine traditions perceptible, knowable and credible.

真理力量源于马克思主义及其中国化时代化的正确理论，正确揭示社会发展的客观规律，提供认识世界、改造世界的科学方法，是党的思想基石和行动指南，赋予党强大的说服力、引领力和战斗力，为新时代管党治党“提供明确的发展方向、有序的发展空间和规范的行动逻辑”[17]。人民性是马克思主义的本质属性，人民立场是马克思主义的根本立场。中央八项规定坚持人民至上，牢牢把握“为什么人”这个根本问题，以始终代表中国最广大人民的根本利益原则要求，天然占据了真理和道义的制高点，具有无可辩驳的正当性和新时代管党治党的话语权，使其能够赢得人民群众的衷心拥护。八项规定是对党员干部个体行为、公权力运行和公共财政使用的约束，对于损害群众利益的行为始终保持零容忍的高压态势，着重解决影响百姓舒适度和满意度的歪风积弊，针对过去存在的各种各样“形式主义”问题进行有力纠偏，其根本目的就是防止损害群众利益，确保权力始终为人民服务。也正因为八项规定深深植根于人民，反映人民意愿，才能够得到人民群众的支持，为其广泛推行实施，持续发挥威力提供不竭动力。理论和作风、真理和人格，犹如车之两轮、鸟之双翼，有真理无人格，则理论空洞无力；有人格无真理，则行动迷失方向。八项规定不仅是真理力量具体化要求的条规禁令，更是对党员干部行为作风这一人格力量外在表现的具象化规范，二者紧密结合，使得党的正确理论的真理力量和党的优良作风的人格力量在新时代变成了纠治“四风”、深入基层、清正廉洁等一系列看得见、摸得着的实际行动，使得抽象的理论和优良传统变得可感、可知、可信。

Only when Communists possess personality-force can they be worthy of their title and win the people’s praise. Personality-force originates from the Party’s fine conduct, is the external manifestation of the Party’s ideals, beliefs and sense of purpose in the words and deeds of Party officials and cadres, is the concrete unfolding and vivid embodiment of truth-force in practice, is the carrier of the Party’s image and the emotional bond, endowing the Party with strong affinity, credibility and appeal, enabling the Party’s theory to be sincerely accepted and identified with by the people. Truth-force is abstract; it must be perceived by the masses through the concrete personified conduct of millions of Party officials and cadres, and it requires reshaping the Party’s conduct in the New Era by upholding and developing the Party’s fine traditions, using the Party’s personality-force to provide the driving force for the Eight-Point Regulations to take root. Over more than a century, the Party, in its long-term practice of leading the people in revolution, construction and reform, has formed a series of fine traditions and conduct, great revolutionary spirit and lofty moral standards, which constitute the strong personality-force of the Chinese Communist Party and are the key to the Party’s continuous gathering of Party spirit and popular sentiment, uniting the entire people to march from victory to victory. Revolutionary traditions and fine conduct such as hard work and plain living, the mass line, and investigation and research are the practical crystallizations tempered by the Party through blood and fire, the Party’s heirlooms, and the distinctive features and unique advantages that distinguish the Party from other political parties. The Eight-Point Regulations unify truth-force and personality-force; truth-force provides direction and confidence for personality-force, and personality-force provides a carrier and driving force for truth-force. The two complement each other, transforming the Party’s lofty ideals and fine conduct into behavioral norms for Party officials and cadres, enabling them to truly take root.

共产党人拥有人格力量，才能无愧于自己的称号，才能赢得人民的赞誉。人格力量源于党的优良作风，是党的理想信念和宗旨意识在党员干部言行中的外在表现，是真理力量在实践中的具体展开和生动体现，是党的形象载体和情感纽带，赋予党强大的亲和力、公信力和号召力，使党的理论能够被人民群众真心接受和认同。真理力量是抽象的，它必须通过千百万党员干部的具体人格化行为才能被群众所感知，需要通过坚持和发扬党的优良传统重塑新时代党的作风，以党的人格力量为八项规定落地生根提供动力源泉。一百多年来，党在领导人民进行革命、建设、改革的长期实践中，形成了一系列党的优良传统作风、伟大的革命精神和崇高的道德风范，构成了中国共产党的强大人格力量，是我们党不断凝聚起党心和民心、团结全国人民不断从胜利走向胜利的关键所在。艰苦奋斗、群众路线、调查研究等革命传统和优良作风，是我们党用血与火淬炼出的实践结晶，是党的传家宝，是党区别于其他政党的显著特点和独特优势。八项规定将真理力量与人格力量相统一，真理力量为人格力量提供方向和底气，人格力量为真理力量提供载体和动力，二者相辅相成，将党的崇高理想和优良作风转化为党员干部的行为准则，使其真正落地生根。

(II) The Governance Logic of Promoting Conduct Improvement through Institutionalization

（二）以制度化推进作风建设的治理逻辑

Through the governance logic of institutional breakthrough, system construction and rigid enforcement, the Central Eight-Point Regulations start with “key small matters” such as investigation and research, meeting style and document style, and official travel, transforming the Party’s fine conduct into rigid institutional norms, constructing a comprehensive, multi-dimensional institutional system for conduct improvement, strengthening the rigid enforcement of institutions, and realizing the transformation from specific behavioral constraints to enhanced governance effectiveness. This solves the drawbacks of conduct improvement being “a passing fad” or “campaign-style,” providing a successful paradigm and practical model for advancing comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and the Party’s self-revolution. First, the institutional breakthrough from “key small matters.” General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: “Small matters and minor details are a mirror that can reflect a person’s character and conduct. In small matters and minor details, there is Party spirit, principle and personality.”[18]P38 The Eight-Point Regulations chose “key small matters” as the entry point for Party governance and discipline in the New Era. On the one hand, because micro-phenomena such as corruption in mooncakes and waste on wheels reflect the risk of macro-power anomie, it is necessary to establish and improve behavioral norms for Party officials and cadres, promote conduct improvement through institutionalized governance carriers, and transform the Party’s fine traditions from soft constraints into hard rules. On the other hand, rectifying seemingly insignificant conduct problems makes it easier to build governance consensus, encounters less resistance in implementation, and achieves notable practical results, enabling a point-to-area approach, triggering systemic change through breakthroughs at key nodes—this is the key to the breakthrough, akin to “moving a log to win trust.”[n9]

中央八项规定通过制度破题、体系构建与刚性执行的治理逻辑，从调查研究、会风文风、公务出行等“关键小事”破题，将党的优良作风转化为刚性制度规范，构建了全方位、立体化的作风建设制度体系，强化制度刚性执行，实现了从具体行为约束到治理效能提升的转化，解决了作风建设“一阵风”“运动式”的弊端，为推进全面从严治党和党的自我革命提供了成功范式和实践样本。其一，从“关键小事”的制度破题。习近平总书记强调：“小事小节是一面镜子，能够反映人品，反映作风。小事小节中有党性，有原则，有人格”[18]P38。八项规定选择“关键小事”作为新时代管党治党的切入点，一方面因为月饼里的腐败、车轮上的浪费等微观现象背后映射的宏观权力的失范风险，需要建立健全党员干部行为规范，以制度化的治理载体推进作风建设，把党的优良传统从软约束变为硬规矩。另一方面，对看似不起眼的作风问题的纠治，更加易于凝聚治理共识，制度贯彻落实的阻力较小，且实践成效显著，能够以点带面，以关键节点突破引发系统性变革，是徙木立信的破题关键。

Second, from the behavioral constraint of Party cadres and members to the systematic construction of a work-style building system. “The establishment of rules is a process of thought, and even more so a real process of normalizing, ordering, and scientizing the relationships between people.”[19] Work-style problems are recurrent and stubborn; they cannot be solved overnight or in a single campaign. It is necessary to weave the institutional cage tightly in all respects and advance the systematic construction of work-style rules and norms. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, with the firm determination to break

其二，从党员干部的行为约束到作风建设制度的体系化构建。“规则的树立是一个思想的过程，更是一个使得人与人之间关系规范化、秩序化、科学化的真实过程”[19]。作风问题具有反复性和顽固性，不可能一蹴而就、毕其功于一役，必须全方位织密制度笼子，推进作风制度规范的体系化构建。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央以破除陋习、革除弊端的坚定决心，注重用制度治党管权治吏，通过严密的制度设计、刚性的制度约束纠治“四风”，着力堵塞体制机制上的制度漏洞，步步深入、善作善成，推动八项规定落地生根。习近平总书记强调：“关键是要抓住制度建设这个重点，以完善公务接待、财务预算和审计、考核问责、监督保障等制度为抓手，努力建立健全立体式、全方位的制度体系”[20]P364。从党的十八大后制定中央八项规定的初步探索，到全党贯彻落实中央八项规定精神，严字当头、实字托底，制定修订与之配套的制度规范，将党的意志在制度层面上予以具体化，形成严密的作风建设的制度网络。通过作风建设制度体系化构建，形成以《党政机关厉行节约反对浪费条例》《中国共产党廉洁自律准则》《中国共产党纪律处分条例》等牵头管总的法规制度；完善了纠治形式主义和官僚主义、公务接待和差旅、公务用车和办公用房等具体方面的制度配套；推进了作风建设的监督管理、考核评价、问责处分以及教育培训等各环节的程序性制度设置，使得制度之间相互衔接、共同作用，形成对党员干部长期稳定的行为约束和价值引导。

Third, strengthen the rigid enforcement of institutions and safeguard institutional authority and efficacy. As the institutionalized embodiment of work style improvement, the vitality of the Central Eight-Point Regulations lies in their enforcement. As a concretized institutional arrangement of the Party for improving its work style, the Regulations take the form of written norms, but for them to truly exert their prescriptive force in constraining behavior and guiding values, the guarantee of institutional enforcement capacity is needed, so that violations are held accountable and punished, the authority of the institution as the Party's will is upheld, and the efficacy of institutional constraint is genuinely brought into play. On the one hand, institutional deterrence is established through an attitude of zero tolerance — that any violation of discipline must be investigated and punished — and through precise accountability. The Eight-Point Regulations adhere to strict enforcement of discipline and precise accountability, showing no leniency toward unhealthy practices that arouse strong public resentment, such as the private use of public vehicles, dining and drinking at public expense, and waste in catering. Whenever such cases are discovered, they are investigated and dealt with, regardless of the offender's rank, with no exceptions. This has eliminated serious hidden dangers within the Party, achieved a top-to-bottom transformation of work style, and upheld the seriousness and authority of the institution. On the other hand, the combination of routine supervision with targeted rectification enhances the effectiveness of supervision and discipline enforcement. By improving the supervision system for work style improvement and establishing a comprehensive supervision system centered on intra-Party supervision, routine supervision is conducted over the behavior of Party cadres and members, ensuring that the Eight-Point Regulations are not reduced to mere formality or distorted in implementation. In daily work, supervision, discipline enforcement, and accountability are strengthened through regular inspections, random spot checks, and other methods, combined with overt and covert investigations as well as public supervision and reporting, to supervise and inspect the work style, integrity, and self-discipline of Party cadres and members, ensuring that the various requirements of the Eight-Point Regulations are continuously implemented. At the same time, targeted rectification campaigns are carried out for prominent and common problems. For prominent and common problems in specific areas, targeted rectification actions are launched, focusing on concentrated remediation and striving to eradicate the soil in which unhealthy practices continue to spread. The combination of targeted rectification with routine supervision forms an effective linked regulatory mechanism, which can both concentrate efforts to solve prominent problems in the short term and achieve long-term institutional constraints.

其三，强化制度刚性执行，维护制度权威与效能。中央八项规定作为作风建设的制度化体现，其生命力在于执行。八项规定作为党改进工作作风具象化的制度设置，其形式是成文规范，但其真正发挥行为约束和价值引导的规约性，需要制度执行力的保障，对违反规定的行为进行问责惩戒，维护制度作为党的意志的权威性，真正发挥制度约束力的效能。一方面，以执纪必严、违纪必究的零容忍态度与精准问责确立制度威慑力。八项规定坚持严格执纪和精准问责，对于群众反映强烈的公车私用、公款吃喝、餐饮浪费等不正之风绝不姑息，发现一起查处一起，不论级别高低，一律没有例外，清除党内存在的严重隐患，实现了从上至下的作风转变，维护制度的严肃性和权威性。另一方面，以常态化监督与专项整治相结合，提升监督执纪效能。通过完善作风建设监督制度，建立健全党内监督为主的全方位监督体系，对党员干部的行为进行常态化监督，确保八项规定不走形式、不走样。在日常工作中，强化监督执纪问责，通过定期检查、随机抽查等方式，结合明察暗访以及群众监督举报，对党员干部的工作作风、廉洁自律等情况进行监督检查，确保八项规定的各项要求得到持续落实。同时，对突出问题和共性问题开展专项整治。针对特定领域的突出问题和共性问题开展专项整治行动，进行集中整治，着力铲除不良作风持续蔓延的土壤。专项整治与常态化监督相结合的方式，形成了一套有效的联动式监管机制，既能够在短期内集中力量解决突出问题，又能够实现长期的制度性约束。

(3) Practical interaction in constructing behavioral order through hierarchical transmission

（三）层级传导建构行为秩序的实践互动

The process from institutional constraint to the construction of behavioral order under the Central Eight-Point Regulations is a gradual evolutionary one. Through the organic unity of grasping the "key minority" and driving the "vast majority," the transmission of hierarchical responsibility pressure and behavioral demonstration shapes the behavioral habits of Party cadres and members, promotes the organic unity of the standardized exercise of power, procedural operation, and routine supervision, and achieves an overall transformation of behavioral order. The formation of work style problems has complex historical origins and structural causes, encompassing both institutional deficiencies such as the absence of institutions and subjective factors such as cognitive biases among some Party cadres and members, as well as the potential influence of informal institutions such as traditional customs. The vitality of an institution lies in its enforcement, and the key to enforcement lies in people — in the practical interaction of specific actors within the field of institutional practice. "The wind forms above, and customs transform below." [10]10 A classical Chinese saying from the Han dynasty scholar Ban Gu's *Book of Han*, meaning that the behavior of those in high positions shapes the customs of those below. Leading cadres, as the "key minority" in work style improvement, are both bearers of the main responsibility for governing the Party and have a significant behavioral demonstration effect. Grasping the leading cadres means grasping the core link of work style improvement. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: "Persistently implement the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations, grasp the 'key minority' to lead by example from above." [21]P68 The Central Eight-Point Regulations state from the outset that "starting from the Party Central Committee and from senior Party cadres, leading and demonstrating level by level, to promote the full chain linkage of the main responsibility and supervisory responsibility for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party," [22] setting a behavioral benchmark for the entire Party to improve its work style through concrete actions, accumulating strong political momentum and institutional pressure, promoting the formation of a work style improvement pattern of layer-by-layer transmission and full participation, and gradually permeating values such as clean exercise of power and serving the people into the behavioral patterns, ways of thinking, and internal cognition of Party cadres and members. Through the long-term stable institutional normative force in the enforcement field and the hierarchical transmission of responsibility pressure and behavioral demonstration, the Eight-Point Regulations internalize external constraints into behavioral habits, achieving a transformation from short-term maintenance of individual behavior to the inertial shaping of group behavior, and from external rule constraints to the construction of behavioral order, manifesting the synergistic unity of rule-based governance and order-based governance.

中央八项规定从制度约束到行为秩序建构是循序渐进的演进过程，通过抓“关键少数”和带动“绝大多数”的有机统一，以层级间责任压力和行为示范的传导作用塑造党员干部的行为习惯，促使权力规范化行使、程序化运作与常态化监督的有机统一，实现行为秩序的整体性转变。作风问题的形成具有复杂的历史渊源与结构性成因，既涵盖制度缺位等制度层面缺陷，也涉及部分党员干部认知偏差等主体因素，同时受传统习俗等非正式制度的潜在影响。制度的生命力在于执行，执行的关键在于人，在于制度实践场域中具体行为人的实践互动。“风成于上，俗化于下”，领导干部作为作风建设中的“关键少数”，既是管党治党主体责任的承担者，也具有显著的行为示范效应，抓住领导干部便抓住了作风建设的核心环节。习近平总书记强调：“锲而不舍落实中央八项规定精神，抓住‘关键少数’以上率下”[21]P68。中央八项规定开宗明义提出，“从党中央做起、从党的高级干部开始，逐级引领示范，推动全面从严治党主体责任和监督责任全链条贯通”[22]，以实际行动为全党改进作风为全党树立行为标杆，积聚起强大政治势能与制度压力，推动形成层层传导、全员参与的作风建设格局，将廉洁用权、为民服务等价值理念逐步渗透至党员干部的行为模式、思维方式与内在认知中。八项规定通过执行场域中长期稳定的制度规范力以及层级间责任压力和行为示范，将外在约束内化为行为习惯，实现党的治理从个体行为的短期维持向群体行为的惯性塑造转变，从外在规则约束向行为秩序建构转变，彰显了规则之治与秩序之治的协同统一。

The vast majority of Party members, as the "vast majority" in work style improvement, are the key to implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations. Only by managing the "vast majority" can the Eight-Point Regulations achieve full coverage, and can institutional norms be transformed into a cultural fashion universally followed. Work style improvement does not focus solely on the "key minority"; it also relies on the political atmosphere jointly created by the "vast majority." General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: "A serious and rigorous inner-Party political life and a healthy and clean inner-Party political ecosystem are the soil for the Party's fine work style and the driving force for the Party's vigorous vitality." [23]P42 Since the implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations, by improving several institutional norms for inner-Party political life and strictly implementing systems such as the "Three Meetings and One Lesson," [11]11 "Three Meetings and One Lesson" (三会一课) refers to the system of holding regular branch committee meetings, branch general meetings, group meetings, and Party lessons. democratic life meetings, organizational life meetings, and democratic evaluation of Party members in practice, clarifying the daily behavioral norms of Party members, the self-restraint ability and governance performance of Party cadres and members have been simultaneously enhanced, promoting the continuous consolidation and deepening of their ideals, beliefs, and Party spirit in practice, transforming compliance with regulations from an external requirement into a behavioral habit. Through the organic unity of grasping the "key minority" and driving the "vast majority," the Eight-Point Regulations, through continuous hierarchical behavioral transmission and practical interaction, form stable expectations and external constraints on the behavioral choices of Party cadres and members, cultivate their awareness of institutional awe and rule compliance, guide their political behavior to strictly conform to inner-Party institutional norms, promote the transformation of disciplinary requirements from external mandatory constraints into individual behavioral habits of Party cadres and members, achieve an overall transformation of inner-Party political life and political ecosystem, and influence social atmosphere through spillover effects, manifesting the unique advantages and strong vitality of Chinese-style party governance.

广大党员作为作风建设的“绝大多数”，是落实中央八项规定精神的关键所在。唯有管住“绝大多数”，八项规定才能实现全面覆盖，制度规范方能转化为普遍遵循的文化风尚。作风建设并非仅聚焦“关键少数”，更依赖“绝大多数”共同营造的政治氛围。习近平总书记指出：“严肃认真的党内政治生活、健康洁净的党内政治生态，是党的优良作风的生成土壤，是党的旺盛生机的动力源泉。”[23]P42八项规定实施以来，通过健全党内政治生活的若干制度规范，在实践中严格执行“三会一课”、民主生活会、组织生活会、民主评议党员等制度，明确党员日常行为准则，同步提升了党员干部的自我约束能力与执政履职效能，推动其理想信念与党性修养在实践中不断巩固深化，使遵守规定从外部要求变为行为习惯。八项规定以抓“关键少数”和带动“绝大多数”的有机统一，通过持续的层级间的行为传导和实践互动，形成对党员干部行为选择的稳定预期与外部约束，培育党员干部的制度敬畏意识与规则遵循意识，引导其政治行为严格契合党内制度规范，推动纪律要求从外在强制性约束逐步转化为党员干部的个体行为习惯，实现党内政治生活和政治生态的整体性变革，并通过溢出效应影响社会风气，彰显了中国式政党治理的独特优势与强大生命力。

IV. How Do the Eight-Point Regulations Transform Customs and Practices?

四、八项规定如何化风成俗？

Transforming customs into social norms is the direction pointed to by the improvement of work style in the New Era; it is by no means a task that can be accomplished in a single day. The key lies in persevering over the long term, and it requires coordinated efforts in multiple areas, such as advancing the long-term effective operation of institutions, ideological tempering and Party spirit education and cultivation, and cultural nurturing, so as to promote the transformation of work style improvement from external constraint to internalized self-discipline.

化风成俗是新时代改进作风的方向所指，绝非朝夕之功，关键在于坚持久久为功，需要从推进制度长效运行建设、思想淬炼和党性教育修养、文化培育等多方面协同发力，推动作风建设从外在约束向内在自觉转变。

(I) Continuously Advance the Construction of Long-Term Effective Operation of Institutions

（一）持续推进制度长效运行建设

To advance the normalization and long-term effectiveness of work style improvement on the new journey, it is necessary to achieve a deep-level leap from normative construction to long-term effective operation, transforming institutional texts into stable and sustained forces of behavioral constraint and value guidance, thereby laying the institutional foundation for the Eight-Point Regulations to transform customs into social norms.

新征程推进作风建设常态化长效化，需要实现从规范建构到长效运行的深层次跃迁，将制度文本转化为稳定持续的行为约束与价值引导力量，为八项规定化风成俗筑牢制度根基。

First, enhance the effectiveness of institutional operation through precise normative construction. The vitality of an institution lies in its scientific nature and operability. To perfect the institutional regulations for work style improvement, the primary task is to carry out targeted optimization to address the shortcomings of the existing institutional system. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We must both address the present, effectively solving the prominent issues that the masses strongly reflect upon, and look to the long term, establishing and perfecting long-term mechanisms that encourage Party members and cadres to serve the people, be pragmatic, and remain clean.” [24]P318 [12]12 The citation format [24]P318 refers to page 318 of source 24 in the original Chinese article’s bibliography, which is not reproduced here. It is necessary to penetrate the surface of work style problems to dig deep into the hidden institutional loopholes, defects in institutional operation, and inadequacies in mechanisms, focusing on solving problems such as “mechanically copying and pasting when formulating supporting intra-Party regulations, prioritizing quantity over quality, either raising institutional standards to unrealistic heights or allowing requirements to attenuate at lower levels.” [25] In accordance with the practical requirements of new situations and new tasks, existing achievements and lessons learned should be transformed into effective institutional norms and robust implementation mechanisms for the new journey. Through reform and institutional innovation, the implementation rules of the Central Eight-Point Regulations should be refined and detailed, enhancing the scientific nature and authority of the institutions, clarifying the behavioral norms for Party members and cadres, and making them more operational and targeted. For example, by establishing systems such as ledger management, follow-up on effectiveness, and accountability for responsibility, key tasks such as comprehensive rural revitalization, ecological and environmental protection, and further deepening reform comprehensively can be managed through a checklist approach, with regular reporting on progress, strengthening supervision and inspection of implementation, and ensuring that the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee are effectively implemented. “One cannot be slow to react to one’s own problems, handling them with sluggishness and weakness” [26]P544; for those who engage in formalism and bureaucracy in implementing the major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, leading to inadequate implementation and strong mass dissatisfaction, the political and disciplinary responsibilities of the relevant responsible persons shall be seriously pursued.

其一，以精准化的规范建构提升制度运行效能。制度的生命力在于科学性与可操作性，完善作风建设的制度规约，首要任务是针对现有制度体系的短板进行靶向优化。习近平总书记指出：“我们既要立足当前、切实解决群众反映强烈的突出问题，又要着眼长远、建立健全促进党员、干部坚持为民务实清廉的长效机制。”[24]P318要透过作风问题的表象深挖隐藏背后的制度漏洞、体制运行缺陷以及机制不足之处，着重解决“制定配套党内法规机械照搬照抄、重数量不重质量、制度标准无限拔高或者要求逐级衰减等问题”[25]。根据新形势新任务的实践要求，把已有成果和经验教训转化为新征程上行之有效的制度规范和执行有力的体制机制，通过改革和制度创新，细化完善中央八项规定实施细则，增强制度的科学性和权威性，明确党员干部的行为规范，使其更具操作性和针对性。例如，通过建立台账管理、跟踪问效以及责任追究等制度，对乡村全面振兴、生态环境保护和进一步全面深化改革等重点工作，实行清单式管理，定期通报进展情况，加强对落实情况的监督检查，确保党中央决策部署落地见效。“对自身存在的问题不能反应迟钝，处理动作慢腾腾、软绵绵”[26]P544，对于在落实党中央重大决策部署中搞形式主义、官僚主义，导致工作落实不到位、群众反映强烈的，严肃追究相关责任人的政治责任和纪律责任。

Second, the long-term binding force of the Central Eight-Point Regulations stems from the long-term nature and continuity of institutional implementation. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “The Central Eight-Point Regulations are not regulations for five or ten years, but long-term effective iron rules and hard constraints.” [27]P347 As an institutional arrangement constraining the behavior of Party members and cadres, the binding force of the Central Eight-Point Regulations lies in the Party members’ and cadres’ understanding and practical effectiveness of implementing the Party’s will and intention to improve work style. Through the institution as a carrier, behavioral boundaries are clarified, violations and transgressions are punished, and compliance with positive behavior is rewarded, so as to achieve the transformation of Party members’ and cadres’ concepts, the reshaping of relationships, and changes in behavior, forming the Party’s fine work style and a healthy and positive intra-Party political culture in the New Era. On the one hand, maintain a high-pressure stance on punishing violations. On the new journey of the New Era, implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations requires both consolidating the foundation for addressing root causes and daring to use sharp tools for addressing symptoms, using iron discipline to rectify various overt acts of defiance against regulations, and strengthening the mandatory constraints and punitive controls of the institutions. On the other hand, improve the feedback mechanism for rectification and implementation. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Rectification and implementation must prevent a start with a bang and a finish with a whimper, prevent prolonged delays, prevent paper rectification and false rectification, prevent replacing the responsibility for rectification implementation with simple accountability of grassroots cadres, and prevent, under the pretext of rectification, filling out forms and reporting numbers at every level, increasing the burden on the grassroots.” [28]P11 In-depth analysis should be conducted on the institutional loopholes and weak links exposed during the investigation and punishment of work style problems, promoting responsible entities to deeply analyze the root causes of problems, formulate practical and targeted rectification measures, improve relevant work mechanisms, promptly fill the loopholes and shortcomings in the institutional system, and optimize the overall effectiveness of institutional operation.

其二，中央八项规定的长效约束力源于制度执行的长期性与连续性。习近平总书记强调：“中央八项规定不是五年、十年的规定，而是长期有效的铁规矩、硬杠杠。”[27]P347中央八项规定作为约束党员干部行为的制度安排，其本身的约束力在于党员干部对党改进工作作风的意志和意图的领悟和执行实效，通过制度这一载体明确行为边界，对违规越界行为的惩戒和正向行为遵循的褒奖，以实现党员干部的理念转变、关系重塑和行为变革，形成新时代党的优良作风和积极健康的党内政治文化。一方面，持续保持对违规行为惩戒的高压态势。新时代新征程，落实中央八项规定精神，既要夯实治本的基础，又要敢于用治标的利器，用铁的纪律整治各种面上的顶风违纪行为，强化制度的强制性约束和惩罚性管制。另一方面，完善整改落实的反馈机制。习近平总书记强调：“整改落实要防止虎头蛇尾、久拖不决，防止搞纸上整改、虚假整改，防止以简单问责基层干部代替整改责任落实，防止以整改为名，层层填表报数，增加基层负担。”[28]P11针对作风问题查处中暴露出的制度漏洞和薄弱环节进行深入剖析，推动责任主体深入剖析问题根源，制定切实可行的针对性整改措施，完善相关工作机制，及时弥补制度体系中存在的漏洞与短板，优化制度运行的整体效能。

(II) Lay the Ideological Foundation through Ideological Tempering and Party Spirit Education

（二）以思想淬炼和党性教育筑牢思想根基

Promoting the leap from behavioral performance under external constraints to behavioral self-discipline through internal identification among Party members and cadres is the core measure for achieving the transformation of customs into social norms in work style improvement in the New Era. Its essence is to transform external norms such as institutional constraints and disciplinary requirements into the ideological and political self-discipline of Party members and cadres, ultimately forming a value consensus and civilized custom commonly followed by the entire society. The behavioral choices of Party members and cadres are, on the one hand, constrained by the external coercive force of institutional norms, and on the other hand, depend on their internal value judgments and self-restraint abilities. On the new journey, to advance the normalization and long-term effectiveness of work style improvement, “it is necessary to combine strict governance with nurturing education, to establish both virtue and rules, and to adhere to the combination of positive advocacy and negative sanctions” [29], and through ideological tempering and Party spirit education empowerment, promote the deep transformation of Party members and cadres from external regulation to internal identification.

推进党员干部在外部约束下行为表现向内在认同的行为自觉跃升，是新时代作风建设实现化风成俗的核心之举，其实质是将制度约束、纪律要求等外部规范，转化为党员干部的思想自觉与政治自觉，最终形成全社会共同遵循的价值共识与文明风尚。党员干部的行为选择一方面受限于制度规范的外力强制约束，另一方面也取决于其内在价值判断与自我约束能力。新征程上，推进作风建设常态化长效化，“既要严管又要厚教，既要立德又要立规，坚持正面倡导和负面惩戒相结合”[29]，通过思想淬炼和党性教育赋能，推进党员干部从外在规约向内在认同的深度转化。

First, strengthen theoretical armament, promoting the construction of a systematic cognitive system regarding the Eight-Point Regulations and work style improvement from the ideological roots among Party members and cadres. Theoretical armament is the ideological engine for transforming customs into social norms in work style improvement, providing cognitive support and a source of motivation for the normalization and long-term effectiveness of work style improvement; the Eight-Point Regulations, as its concrete practical form, transform abstract theory into clear behavioral norms. Thought is the precursor to action; value identification originates from theoretical identification and value resonance with institutional norms and their theoretical basis. Only by strengthening theoretical armament to guide Party members and cadres in grasping the political significance and value core of work style improvement can the deep transformation from heteronomy to self-discipline be achieved, laying a solid ideological foundation for the sustained improvement of work style. The key to the Eight-Point Regulations transforming customs into social norms lies in Party members and cadres transforming institutional requirements into internal identification and behavioral habits, and the Party’s innovative theory in the New Era provides the direction of action and endogenous driving force for this. The vast number of Party members and cadres should take the opportunity of thoroughly studying and implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations through education and learning, earnestly study and understand General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on strengthening the Party’s work style improvement, accurately grasp the political logic, value core, and practical orientation contained in the Eight-Point Regulations, continuously examine their own work style, ideological understanding, and spiritual outlook through comparison and self-inspection, be adept at discerning the development trends of things from incipient problems, grasp the inherent necessity of things from accidental problems, and transform the external prohibition of “what must not be done” into the internal cognition of “why it cannot be done and how it should be done.”

其一，加强理论武装，推动党员干部从思想根源构建对八项规定与作风建设的系统性认知体系。理论武装是作风建设化风成俗的思想引擎，为作风建设常态化长效化提供认知支撑与动力源泉；八项规定作为其具体实践形态，将抽象理论转化为明确的行为规范。思想是行动的先导，价值认同发轫于对制度规范及其理论依据的理论认同和价值共鸣，唯有通过加强理论武装引导党员干部把握作风建设的政治意义与价值内核，才能实现他律向自律的深层转化，为作风建设的持久改进筑牢思想根基。八项规定化风成俗的关键在于党员干部将制度要求转化为内在认同和行为习惯，而新时代党的创新理论为其提供行动方向与内生动力。广大党员干部要以深入贯彻中央八项规定精神学习教育为契机，认真学习领会习近平总书记关于加强党的作风建设的重要论述，准确把握八项规定所蕴含的政治逻辑、价值内核与实践指向，通过对照检视持续检视自身作风、思想认识与精神面貌，善于从苗头问题中洞察事物发展趋势，从偶然问题中把握事物内在必然性，将“不得做什么”的外在禁令转化为“为何不能做、应该怎么做”的内在认知。

Second, continuously strengthen Party spirit education and Party spirit cultivation, achieving a deep-level transformation from institutional heteronomy to behavioral self-consciousness. Party spirit education, as a compulsory course for Communists to cultivate their moral character, is the ideological foundation and value core for transforming work style into custom; the Eight-Point Regulations are the practical carrier and testing benchmark for Party spirit education, providing the most direct and most realistic practical field for Party spirit education. Work style issues are essentially Party spirit issues. As specific institutional norms, the initial implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations relied on strict supervision, discipline enforcement, and accountability; however, when Party members and cadres form a value identification with the Eight-Point Regulations through Party spirit education, institutional constraints gradually transform into inner convictions. At this point, the Eight-Point Regulations are no longer passively observed rules but actively practiced habits. Work style construction values persistent and unremitting effort, while custom formation emphasizes daily cultivation. Party spirit education must run through the entire process of education and training. "Party spirit education should focus on ideals and convictions, the Party's purpose, revolutionary traditions, and clean governance education"[30]P12, supplementing the spiritual calcium of Party members and cadres, continuously enhancing their political immunity, and achieving a deep-level transformation from treating symptoms to treating root causes through gradual change, so that clean and upright practices truly integrate into the pulse of the times. Party organizations at all levels, Party schools (schools of administration), and Party spirit education cadre colleges must incorporate Party spirit education into compulsory courses for cadre training, innovate educational content and forms, conduct systematic study and training through centralized rotation training and tiered, categorized training, use ideals and convictions education to guide Party members and cadres to uphold the spiritual pursuits of Communists, establish a people-centered outlook on political performance through Party purpose education, uphold and develop the Party's fine work style through revolutionary tradition education, cultivate the spiritual soil of "not daring to be corrupt" and a sound political ecosystem through clean governance education, forever preserve the political essence of Communists, fundamentally resolve problems such as wavering ideals and convictions, weak adherence to principles, and distorted outlooks on political performance among some Party members and cadres, and clear ideological obstacles for the sustained implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations.

其二，持续加强党性教育和党性修养，实现从制度他律向行为自觉的深层次转化。党性教育作为共产党人修身养性的必修课，是作风建设化风成俗的思想根基与价值内核；八项规定是党性教育的实践载体和检验标尺，为党性教育提供了最直接、最现实的实践场域。作风问题本质上是党性问题，八项规定作为具体的制度规范，其初期推行依赖于严格的监督执纪问责力度；而当党员干部通过党性教育形成对八项规定的价值认同后，制度约束会逐渐转化为内在信念，此时八项规定不再是被动遵守的规则，而是主动践行的习惯。作风建设贵在常抓不懈，风气养成重在日常教化，要把党性教育贯穿教育培训全过程。“党性教育要重点开展理想信念、党的宗旨、革命传统、党风廉政教育”[30]P12，补足党员干部的精神之钙，不断增强党员干部的政治免疫力，在渐进式变革中实现治标向治本的深层转化，使清风正气真正融入时代脉动。各级党组织、党校（行政学院）和党性教育干部学院要将党性教育纳入干部培训必修课，创新教育内容和形式，通过集中轮训以及分层分类培训等方式开展系统学习培训，以理想信念教育引导党员干部坚守共产党人的精神追求，通过党的宗旨教育树立以人民为中心的政绩观，以革命传统教育坚持发扬党的优良作风，以党风廉政教育培育“不想腐”的精神土壤和良好政治生态，永葆共产党人政治本色，从根本上解决部分党员干部理想信念动摇、原则性不强以及政绩观扭曲等问题，为八项规定的持续落地清扫思想障碍。

(3) Advancing the transformation into custom through cultural cultivation

（三）以文化培育推进化风成俗

For any institution to truly take root in people's hearts, it must be embedded in a specific cultural soil, gaining shared cognition and emotional belonging at the cultural level. Cultural cultivation, through subtle and潜移默化[13]13 A four-character idiom meaning "to exert a subtle, transforming influence on someone's character, thinking, or behavior." means, permeates value concepts such as clean governance, diligence and frugality, and pragmatism and service to the people into the organization's daily atmosphere, discourse system, and interpersonal interactions. Through the construction of cultural identity, it realizes the conscious transformation of behavioral patterns, which is conducive to advancing from the overwhelming momentum of "not daring to be corrupt" to the conscious realm of "not wanting to be corrupt." First, the effectiveness of cultural cultivation depends on the attractiveness and appeal of its carriers, which must be embedded in key scenarios of the work and life of Party members and cadres. Party organizations at all levels should cultivate a positive and healthy intra-Party political culture, promote the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists originating from the great founding spirit of the Party, vigorously advance the construction of a clean culture, thicken the cultural soil of clean and honest public service, integrate work style requirements into daily behavioral norms through thematic study, creating clean cultural spaces, and optimizing cultural guidance in work processes, transform clean culture into daily elements, continuously enhance the感染力[14]14 A term meaning "power to move or inspire," often used in the context of cultural or artistic influence. and penetration of clean culture, promote the firmness of their ideals and convictions and the purity of their Party spirit cultivation, advance the construction of a clean culture in Party organizations through the collective efforts of the group, and cultivate the spiritual soil and political ecosystem of "not wanting to be corrupt." Second, the effectiveness of cultural cultivation depends on the initiative of individual Party members and cadres, and self-motivation should be mobilized from aspects such as improving moral cultivation and meeting their own development needs. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes that Party members and cadres must continuously enhance their humanistic literacy and spiritual realm, "guiding everyone to rectify their hearts and cultivate themselves, discipline themselves and manage their families, be clean and honest in officialdom, and consciously resist the erosion of unhealthy tendencies"[31]P386. The broad masses of Party members and cadres should actively draw cultural nutrients for upholding integrity and honesty from China's excellent traditional culture, cultivate the spiritual realm of self-denial and public service, honesty and self-discipline, and consciously act as models of governing with virtue and rectifying the heart and cultivating oneself; they should make good use of red resources, inherit the genes of integrity from fine revolutionary traditions, strictly restrain their own conduct and behavior, and strictly abide by the Party's discipline and rules; they should use advanced socialist culture to cultivate the value pursuit of clean officialdom and impartial exercise of power, and promote the formation of a social atmosphere where integrity is honored and corruption is disgraced, and where upward and good tendencies prevail.

任何制度若要真正深入人心，必须嵌入特定的文化土壤之中，获得文化层面的共同认知与情感归属。文化培育通过潜移默化的方式将廉洁从政、勤俭节约、务实为民等价值理念渗透至组织的日常氛围、话语体系与人际互动之中，以文化认同的建构实现行为模式的自觉转化，有利于推动从“不敢腐”的压倒性态势向“不想腐”的自觉境界迈进。其一，文化培育的有效性依赖于载体的吸引力与感染力，要嵌入到党员干部工作与生活的关键场景。各级党组织要开展积极健康的党内政治文化，弘扬以伟大建党精神为源头的中国共产党人精神谱系，大力推进廉洁文化建设，厚培廉洁奉公的文化土壤，通过专题学习、打造廉洁文化空间以及优化工作流程中的文化引导，将作风要求融入日常行为规范，把廉洁文化转化为日常元素，不断提升廉洁文化的感染力和渗透力，促进其理想信念的坚定性与党性修养的纯洁性，以群体的共同努力推进党组织的廉洁文化建设，培育“不想腐”的精神土壤和政治生态。其二，文化培育的有效性依赖于党员干部个体的主动性，要从提高道德修养、满足自身发展需求等方面调动自我积极性。习近平总书记强调党员干部要不断提升人文素养和精神境界，“引导大家正心修身、律己持家、清廉为官，自觉抵御歪风邪气的侵蚀”[31]P386。广大党员干部要积极从中华优秀传统文化中汲取持廉守正的文化养分，培养克己奉公、清廉自守的精神境界，自觉做为政以德、正心修身的模范；要用好红色资源，从优良革命传统中传承廉洁基因，严格约束自己的操守和行为，严格遵守党的纪律和规矩；要用社会主义先进文化涵养为官清廉、秉公用权的价值追求，推动形成廉荣贪耻、向上向善的社会氛围。

The deep-seated goal of cultural cultivation is to construct broad social recognition of institutional value. The values advocated by the Eight-Point Regulations themselves are highly consistent with social public order and good customs, earning the heartfelt support of the people. Since their specific implementation, by effectively solving prominent issues strongly reflected by the masses, they have further enhanced the people's social recognition of the Eight-Point Regulations. The enhancement of social recognition further compresses the living space for work style problems, creating a favorable external environment for the transformation of the Eight-Point Regulations into custom. Culture is essentially a set of shared cognitive frameworks and behavioral norms. Through cultural carriers such as typical publicity, ritual activities, education and training, and literary and artistic works, continuously narrating and reinforcing the positive narrative of work style construction can form a common expectation among Party members, cadres, and the broad masses regarding "what is a good work style" and "what is appropriate behavior." Thus, this universal expectation constitutes a powerful soft constraint, making those who violate the Eight-Point Regulations face not only institutional punishment but also public opinion pressure and moral scrutiny from the cultural environment. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to "promote traditional Chinese virtues and strengthen family, family education, and family tradition construction"[21]P44. The construction of cultural cultivation at the social level requires innovating cultural practice activities, creating new cultural products, transforming the institutional requirements of the Eight-Point Regulations into vivid cultural expressions through diverse carriers such as new media matrices, artistic sublimation, and role model shaping, integrating core socialist values into social development and daily life, enriching the supply of high-quality clean cultural products and services, educating and guiding the whole society to consciously abide by the law and follow public order and good customs, resolutely oppose money worship, hedonism, extreme individualism, and historical nihilism, establish good social moral trends, strive to be demonstrators of socialist morality and maintainers of good customs, consolidate the practical effectiveness of the Eight-Point Regulations with public opinion pressure, moral scrutiny, and cultural ecosystem optimization, and advance the transformation of work style construction into custom.

文化培育的深层目标是构建社会对制度价值的广泛认同。八项规定本身所倡导的价值观与社会公序良俗高度一致，获得人民群众的衷心支持，自具体实施以来，通过切实解决群众反映强烈的突出问题，进一步增强了人民群众对八项规定的社会认同。而社会认同的增强，进一步压缩了作风问题的生存空间，为八项规定化风成俗营造了有利外部环境。文化本质上是一套共享的认知框架和行为规范，通过典型宣传、仪式活动、教育培训、文艺作品等文化载体，不断讲述和强化作风建设的正面叙事，能够在党员干部和广大群众中形成关于“什么是好的作风”“何为合适行为”的共同预期。由此，这种普遍预期构成了一种强大的软性约束，使违反八项规定者不仅面临制度惩罚，更会感受到来自文化环境的舆论压力和道德审视。习近平总书记指出，要“弘扬中华传统美德，加强家庭家教家风建设”[21]P44。社会层面的文化培育建构需要创新文化实践活动，打造新型文化产品，通过新媒体矩阵、艺术升华、榜样塑造等多样化载体，将八项规定的制度要求转化为生动的文化表达，将社会主义核心价值观融入社会发展和日常生活之中，丰富廉洁文化优质产品和服务供给，教育引导全社会自觉遵守法律、遵循公序良俗，坚决反对拜金主义、享乐主义、极端个人主义和历史虚无主义，树立良好社会道德风尚，争做社会主义道德的示范者、良好风尚的维护者，以舆论压力、道德审视和文化生态优化巩固八项规定的实践成效，推进作风建设化风成俗。

About the authors: Gao Yazhou, doctoral candidate at the School of Marxism, Hohai University; Sang Xuecheng, professor at the Party School of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the CPC (Jiangsu School of Administration), doctoral supervisor at the School of Marxism, Nanjing University, and Dean and Chief Expert of the Jiangsu Institute for the Theory and Practice of Party Building Innovation.

作者简介：高亚州，河海大学马克思主义学院博士研究生；桑学成，中共江苏省委党校（江苏行政学院）教授、南京大学马克思主义学院博士生导师，江苏党的建设理论与实践创新研究院院长兼首席专家。