Bottlenecks in Thinking
- Mỹ Huyền Trần
- 43 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Dr. Le Vinh Trien - HAPRI's Vice Director.
In recent years, many people have frequently mentioned the concept of "institutional bottlenecks" in the country's development process.
This expression is perhaps not fully specific. The real, deeper bottleneck lies in thinking—specifically, the thinking regarding power, which is the object of the institution.
Institutional reform, if it stops only at documents, laws, and decrees without being accompanied by a fundamental change in thinking, will only create new forms rather than bring about new actions.
Institutions are the body, while thinking is the brain. Without changing thinking, institutions will remain empty frames, potentially becoming barriers to the very development they are expected to promote.
Specifically, for institutional reform to succeed, there must be a renewal in thinking regarding state power—the subject of institutional reform. For a long time, power has often been understood as a natural privilege of many officials, bestowed from above to below, from the State to the people.
This mindset creates a style of conduct based on the "ask-give" mechanism, where citizens and businesses must obey, while officials have rights because they can impose and issue orders.
If that thinking does not change, every institutional reform—even with many new laws—will only cause the apparatus to swell with new procedures.
Conversely, if state power is viewed differently—as a mandate entrusted by the people—the relationship reverses.
Then, power is no longer for oppression but for service; not to consolidate an official's position but to enhance the satisfaction of businesses and the happiness and prosperity of the people.
An official has true power not because people are afraid or businesses have to bribe, but because he creates a positive influence on the market and social life. That power is associated with respect, not apprehension or fear. State power is granted by the people, not derived from forcing people to follow.
Looking back at the history of economic renovation since 1986—the first "Doi Moi"—reform was successful then because of a revolutionary change in thinking: renewing thinking regarding the country's economic subjects.
From viewing private enterprise and the free market as exploitation, we shifted to recognizing them as essential drivers for development.
Without that critical change, we would never have accepted a multi-sector economy, released production potential, or achieved the spectacular growth of the following three decades. This lesson shows: before institutional reform, there must be reform in thinking.
Even renewing thinking about the market and entrepreneurs—the basis of the 1986 Doi Moi—was not simple.
To this day, the State still has to continue calling for the private sector to be considered a pillar of the economy. This proves that changing thinking is always a "strenuous" process, not an easy one.
Changing the conception of power will be similarly difficult because those who benefit from the status quo will always be obstacles to reform. But without clearly defining and decisively changing thinking about power, institutional reform will hardly succeed.
Such changes in thinking are true not only at the macro level but also exist in many specific fields. Look at how society has changed its view of vulnerable groups.
There was a time when sex workers were seen as "prostitutes," remnants of the old regime. When arrested, they were referred to with derogatory terms, as people who needed their "human dignity restored."
Only when the conception changed—viewing them as people needing livelihoods and support—did policies become more humane and fair.
Similarly, drug users were once viewed as criminals. When thinking changed to view them as victims needing medical and psychological help, prevention policies became truly effective.
Education is also a testament. For decades, continuous reforms have taken place, but society remains unsatisfied.
The root cause is not a lack of resolutions or new programs, but that the thinking regarding the "product" of education has not changed.
If the goal remains to train compliant, obedient people, it will inevitably lead to rote learning, model essays, and a generation lacking critical thinking. Only when the conception changes—viewing the product as free, creative individuals who dare to think and question—will reform reach the root.
It must be emphasized: changing thinking about power does not mean weakening the State.
On the contrary, it is the way to make the State stronger, more legitimate, and more effective. A modern State cannot operate solely on authority but must rely on legitimacy, transparency, and social consensus.
The lesson of the first Doi Moi remains: before changing institutions, change thinking. And today—the reform effort in the new era, likened to a second Doi Moi—if it is to succeed, it must begin not by writing more new documents, but by rewriting in our minds a new conception of power: power comes from the people, is for the people, and is measured by the prosperity and happiness of the people. Only then will institutional reform truly have a soul, and the country truly break through.
Original artiale: Điểm nghẽn trong tư duy (tuoitre.vn)
