Effective Policy Implementation in China's Local State

Effective policy implementation is a core component of the Chinese political system's adaptability and stability. A thorough investigation of local implementation mechanisms, however, is often hindered by an almost exclusive concentration on implementation efficiency. This article introduces a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Modern China 2015-07, Vol.41 (4), p.372-405
Main Authors: Ahlers, Anna L., Schubert, Gunter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
China
Citizen participation
Enforcement
Governance
Local government
Policy implementation
Political systems
Public administration
Public policy
Socialism
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Summary:Effective policy implementation is a core component of the Chinese political system's adaptability and stability. A thorough investigation of local implementation mechanisms, however, is often hindered by an almost exclusive concentration on implementation efficiency. This article introduces a new analytical framework and suggests focusing on the interactions between the different administrative tiers—counties, townships, and villages—to understand local policy implementation in terms of procedural and outcome effectiveness. It argues that the triangle of central policy design, institutional constraints, and strategic agency of local implementers explains cases of effective policy implementation that can be observed throughout China. By way of studying the "Building of a New Socialist Countryside" in four cases, this article shows how effective policy implementation can be the result of what students of local governance have so far rather treated as obstructive factors, namely performance and cadre evaluation, financial scarcity, limited public participation, and the focus on models.
ISSN:0097-7004
1552-6836
DOI:10.1177/0097700413519563