Overview

This edited volume assesses governance innovation and institutional change under the fifth generation of China’s political leaders headed by Xi Jinping. The configuration of long-term policy innovation without regime change requires skilled political actors who secure strategic majorities and set up coalitions to design and launch new policies. Recalibrations or reconfigurations of the governance model respond to domestic reform pressures or external shocks in order to secure regime survival. Given that most structural constraints and reform pressures do not arise out of a sudden, the thrilling question is why the political elites sometimes decide not to engage in institutional reforms despite of widespread societal support for major restructuring and why they suddenly launch institutional changes in times of relative stability. The authors address these issues by focusing on basic patterns and paradigms of governance and institutional change in China, the actors and drivers of governance innovation, as well as the impact of norms, values, and socio-cognitive orientations. This is added by some reflections on the interplay between abstract ideas, reform debates, and the making of concrete decisions as outlined by the Third Plenum on (socio-)economic reforms in 2013 and the Fourth Plenum on rule-based governance (fazhi) in 2014.

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9781498580243

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Reviews

This study is a major contribution to the understanding of the Chinese party-state as an adaptive political system. The contributors provide important insights into the role of legal reform, the management of center-local relationships, and other key issues of ongoing governance innovation in Xi Jinping's `new era.' -- Brantly Womack, University of Virginia The analysis is sharp, the assessment is balanced, and the insights are profound. This volume, written by experts of Chinese affairs, is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the nature and prospects of government innovation and policy change under Xi Jinping. -- He Li, Merrimack College This volume brings together a number of well-known specialists to consider and re-consider local governance in China. Xi Jinping has made it clear that he is opposed to electoral democracy of any kind, including co-called `intraparty democracy,' but does that mean there is no public participation or consideration of public opinion in the making of public policy at the local level? This volume explores state efforts to promote policy (`top-level design'), public opinion, and new approaches to local governance. This will make an important contribution to the field. -- Joseph Fewsmith, Boston University

This study is a major contribution to the understanding of the Chinese party-state as an adaptive political system. The contributors provide important insights into the role of legal reform, the management of center-local relationships, and other key issues of ongoing governance innovation in Xi Jinping's `new era.' -- Brantly Womack, University of Virginia The analysis is sharp, the assessment is balanced, and the insights are profound. This volume, written by experts of Chinese affairs, is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the nature and prospects of government innovation and policy change under Xi Jinping. -- He Li, Merrimack College This volume brings together a number of well-known specialists to consider and re-consider local governance in China. Xi Jinping has made it clear that he is opposed to electoral democracy of any kind, including so-called `intraparty democracy,' but does that mean there is no public participation or consideration of public opinion in the making of public policy at the local level? This volume explores state efforts to promote policy (`top-level design'), public opinion, and new approaches to local governance. This will make an important contribution to the field. -- Joseph Fewsmith, Boston University

Author Information

Nele Noesselt is professor of political science at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

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