ABSTRACT
As the People’s Republic of China (PRC) police move into the fourth decade of reform (since 1979), they continue to be confronted by many old problems (e.g., corruption, abuse of powers) and still more new challenges (e.g., refurbishing an old image, forging a new identity). One of the most fundamental problems is that of modifying traditional communist policing in light of the quickly changing social conditions and political realities. Ideologically, how can the spirit of Lei Feng be modernized to t with the youthful aspirations of today?6 Culturally, how can the police culture be changed to make it more service oriented and market driven?7 Organizationally, how can the mission, role, and function of police be redened and realigned to cater to the market economy?8 Professionally, how can police knowledge be upgraded to meet new challenges?9 Operationally, how can the police be encouraged to be responsive to local leadership10 and serve local economic needs11 while at the same time following directives of the central command and promoting legal objectives?12 Of all the police reform challenges, sustainability is of the greatest concern and the most dicult to deal with. e task at hand is to secure favorable conditions of sustainable growth amidst permanent social disorganization and radical economic dislocations, within the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and in the society.13
