China’s Evolving Policy Processes under the Comparative Lenses: Theories and Evidence

This book takes a broad approach to studying China’s policy processes. It aims to shed new light on the characteristics of China’s political systems and to adapt theoretical frameworks of policy processes developed in Western democracies to China. In 2021, Xi Jinping introduced the concept of “whole-process people’s democracy”. This new discourse calls for a deeper understanding of both traditional and new mechanisms and institutions functioning in China’s policy processes. Bringing together scholars with extensive fieldwork experience in mainland China and Taiwan, this edited volume investigates governance mechanisms and institutions of policy processes in China from different perspectives, such as mass line, Tiao–Kuai coordination, and People’s Congress. The book focuses not only on traditional topics such as agenda setting and policy change, but also on political-administrative relations, policy mix design, and delivering service contracts in communities. A comparative analysis of three social enterprises in Taiwan is provided as a case study of non-governmental actors’ (lack of) influence on policies in a context that is different from mainland China. This book will appeal to scholars, students, and practitioners interested in policy processes in mainland China and Taiwan and in comparative theories about policy processes around the world.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction 2. From Tiao-window to Kuai-window: Strategies and Policy Entrepreneurship in Combating Counterfeit Cigarette Policy 3. Evaluating Performance of Government Contracted Social Service Implementation: An Analysis under the Lense of Collaborative Networks Theory 4. Could Politicization Improve Administrative Effectiveness?: Evidence from Party-led Reform of Social Conflict Resolution in X City of Hubei Province, China 5. A New Path to Empowering the Disabled: Work Integration Social Enterprises as a Social Governance Mechanism in Taipei 6. Mechanisms of Institutional Innovation and Diffusion in China: The Case of River-Chief Systems 7. Policy Evaluation and Policy Style Analysis of Ride-Hailing in China from the Perspective of Policy Instruments: The Introduction of a Two-Dimensional Framework 8. Refinement and Operationalization of the Multiple Streams Framework in China’s Context: The 2004 Amendment of the Infectious Diseases Law

About the Author :
Wei Li is an Associate Professor at the College of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China. Her research interests include policy processes, governance innovation and policy analysis in mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. Her recent original research articles have appeared in peer-reviewed journals, including Policy Studies, Macro Management & Public Policies, Asian Politics & Policy, Policy Design and Practice, and Policy Studies Journal. She has also published a book with Routledge titled Public Administration in Hong Kong: Dynamics of Reform and Executive-Led Public Policy.

Review :
"Li Wei's edited volume contributes to codification of Public Policy Processes with Chinese Characteristics in the making. Scholars balanced an inside-out approach of deriving a Chinese model with an outside-in approach with suggestions on how western models may be selectively useful for China's consideration. This east-west intellectual interaction supports progressive development of Public Administration with Chinese Characteristics." Dr Charles Chao Rong PHUA, Chairman, Solaris Consortium of Management Consultancies/CEO, Solaris Strategies Singapore; global 100 professor-author grade management consultant (CMC-AF, ICMCI); Editor, Routledge-Solaris series on strategy, wisdom and skills; Adjunct faculty, National University of Singapore and University of St Gallen “In this volume, Drs Wei Li and Fang Chen comprehensively depicted policy processes, from delivering service contracts to governance mechanisms and institutions. Through diverse theoretical and methodological approaches in mainland China and Taiwan, this volume offers groundbreaking insights for academics and practitioners regionally and globally.” Professor Christopher M. Weible, University of Colorado Denver, USA "This volume offers an insightful exploration of China's policy processes, adeptly bridging Eastern and Western academic traditions. It provides a comprehensive examination of governance mechanisms, political-administrative relations, and the distinctive role of non-governmental actors, thereby illuminating the evolving nature of policy development in China. This book's thorough investigation of both traditional and contemporary facets of China's policy environment renders it a crucial addition to the field, enriching the understanding of comparative policy analysis across varied political landscapes. Xun Wu, Professor of Public Policy, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology