In the present study, which seeks to identify the chief characteristics of mainland Chinese organizational ideology, two competing sets of justification for organizational actions emerged. The ‘power camp’, which relies on status by attribution, the personal authority of leaders and instrumental personal connections as its key ideological force, is currently challenged by an emerging belief system, which advocates legitimacy, meritocracy and responsibility within Chinese organizations. Until both camps recognize that these twin belief systems are, actually, based on a common set of underlying assumptions — an ever-hostile world, a hierarchical social reality and self-seeking individuals — China's enterprise reform initiative will be built on very shaky foundations.