Handbook on Local Governance in China: Structures, Variations, and Innovations(Handbooks of Research on Contemporary China series)

Demonstrating the crucial importance of local governance in China’s development and international relations, this topical Handbook combines theoretical approaches with novel methodological tools to understand state–society relations at the local level. The Handbook assesses the formal mechanisms that organize territorial relations and scales of state to reconceptualize the local in China’s sociopolitical history. Addressing the complexity of local governance, it examines both the state and societal actors that are involved in how local policies are designed and implemented. Chapters review the emerging literature on Chinese bureaucracy, central–local relations, administrative hierarchies, functional division of power in local governments, and policy innovation. Looking towards the future of the neoliberal capitalist world order, the Handbook also considers economic governance at the local level in the evolving contexts of digitalization and green transformation before tackling issues related to social governance including housing policies and public services. Interdisciplinary in scope, this comprehensive Handbook will be essential to students and scholars of Asian politics, policy, urban studies, and regulation and governance. It will also benefit policymakers across Asia working in governmental regulation and public administration and management.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Preface xiv List of abbreviations xv Introduction to the Handbook on Local Governance in China 1 Ceren Ergenc PART I SCALES OF STATE 1 Central control and local governance: the political economy of change since 1949 10 David S.G. Goodman 2 From the administrative hierarchy to the system of administrative divisions 30 Carolyn Cartier and Puzhou Wu 3 The administrative structure and restructuring of cities in contemporary China 48 Kyle A. Jaros 4 The internal organization of local government in China 66 Nabo Chen and Xueguang Zhou 5 Xi’s third way: illiberal institutionalization 85 Björn Alpermann and Philipp C.D. Immel 6 Cadres and local policy experimentation 98 Reza Hasmath and Jessica C. Teets 7 Developments in urban neighborhood governance 112 Beibei Tang 8 Informal governance at China’s borders 127 Tak-Wing Ngo 9 Public participation in local governance: formal and deliberative institutions 138 Ceren Ergenc 10 Technocracy on the ground: cadre competence, expert involvement, and scientific advice in China’s local governance 151 Anna L. Ahlers PART II ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE 11 Digital governance in China 177 Genia Kostka 12 The digitalization and evolution of China’s vertical governance model 207 Xiang Gao 13 Cyberspace and social governance: the role of the Cyberspace Administration office 223 Yiran Li 14 Local environmental governance 243 Daniele Brombal 15 Green and low-carbon-oriented urban redevelopment: the transformation of urban governance in China 259 Chen Li and Mark Wang 16 The entrepreneurial state: the case of Wuxi’s solar industry 271 Minglu Chen and Juan Chen 17 Service organization reform at the local level 282 Chenyang He, Ning Liu, and Carlos Wing-Hung Lo 18 Solid waste governance in cities 299 Natalie W.M. Wong PART III SOCIAL GOVERNANCE 19 The political economy of local housing governance: 1949–2022 306 Zhao Zhang 20 Newly founded local universities: “land-grant colleges” on Chinese soil? 331 Qiang Zha 21 Welfare policy at the local level 345 Xian Huang 22 Migrants and local social inclusion 360 Wanyang Hu 23 Urban China and COVID-19: how Chinese cities responded to the pandemic 378 Xuefei Ren 24 Labour relations governance at the local level 386 Frank Lefeng Lin 25 Innovative state and local variations: governing religion in Greater Suzhou 405 Keping Wu 26 Judicial relations in local China 415 Juan Wang and Sitao Li 27 The challenge of controlling corruption at the grassroots 427 Andrew Wedeman Glossary 448 Index

About the Author :
Edited by Ceren Ergenc, Researcher, East Asian Studies and Research Centre, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain and David S.G. Goodman, University of Sydney, Australia

Review :
‘The Handbook on Local Governance in China: Structures, Variations, and Innovations is a significant addition to the field of Chinese politics and governance. Its interdisciplinary approach, wide-ranging analyses and valuable information sources make it an essential resource for scholars and policy analysts seeking a comprehensive understanding of local governance in China today.’ ‘”The local” is the venue where interests coalesce and great visions are tested and assessed. The Handbook on Local Governance in China presents the latest state-of-the-art review on this critical subject matter by skilfully marrying the more traditional, structural focus centring on policy processes within the multi-tier party-state apparatus, and the broader sociological and political economy dimensions centring on state-society interactions in a co-governance perspective. The empirical focus on two emerging policy areas –digitalization and green policy – adds caviar to the plate.' ‘This superb, nuanced interdisciplinary volume is packed with hitherto unresearched material, conceptualized and analyzed creatively and knowledgeably. The Handbook uncovers the inner workings of governance, plus societal reaction. Each chapter offers a wealth of new data illuminated by sophisticated interpretation. All scholars of domestic China will find much of value here.’