Reinventing Administrative Prescriptions: Spirituality in China?

Abstract

The decade of experience following the 9/11 incident suggests a complex process of international development with a particular resurgence of interest in religiosity and spirituality. This paper attempts to explore the situation of spirituality if indeed it exists in China or if it is more identifiable with atheism, communism, Confucianism or Marxism. Such serious attempt may present difficulties as the dividing line between administration, politics, and economy is by no means clear. Further, the situation of religiosity and spirituality is characterized by leadership and history of political legitimacy and inherent tension. Several developments of moral degeneration of public administrators and silent crisis in governance are arguably related to spirituality/non-spirituality factor. Arising from complexities of governance issues, China perhaps may reinvent its administration by working on elements of spirituality as it proceeds with its market-oriented reforms though this may be a lengthy struggle.