Exploring the relationship between Guanxi and corruption in the Chinese public sector

This paper explores the relationship between Guanxi and corruption in the Chinese public sector by investigating four sub-objectives to do with exploring corruption in the Chinese public sector, exploring the theoretical... [ view full abstract ]

This paper explores the relationship between Guanxi and corruption in the Chinese public sector by investigating four sub-objectives to do with exploring corruption in the Chinese public sector, exploring the theoretical concept of Guanxi, Guanxi’s contribution to corruption and whether corruption is an inevitable consequence of Guanxi.

As this is a relatively new field, qualitative research such as exploratory study and case study strategy are applied. In terms of the data resources, secondary data is collected online including both documentary and survey-based data like newspapers, journals, reports, interviews and comments. Afterwards, discourse analysis is employed in order to analysis the multiple types of data. Based on the three significant and representative cases of Zhou Yongkang, Su Rong, Jiang Jiemin in past five years (2011-2016), the findings are highly consistent with existing theories and studies on China’s Guanxi and corruption such as “two-order” corruption theory and the study of Guanxi’s four stimulative impacts on corruption. Additionally, a new type of Guanxi which consists of both family Guanxi and corrupt Guanxi simultaneously is found. The study indicates a complex and complicated relationship between Guanxi and corruption. On the one hand, Guanxi encourages corruption as its born characteristics and the cultural and political environment in China. On the other hand, Guanxi does not necessarily mean corruption, indeed corruption appears to be a negative variation of Guanxi.