Communist Dilemma: Expose Corruption, Maintain Legitimacy

Vietnam kicked off its largest corruption and organized crime trial on Feb. 25, bringing 155 defendants to court, including two former Communist Party Central Committee members. The case, which has been characterized as a show trial by foreign media, is symbolic of the major dilemma facing a Communist Party seeking to build up Vietnam's battered economy — how to weed out corruption and graft without weakening the legitimacy and strength of the party.