Handbook on Local Governance in China

‘”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.''
– Linda Chelan Li, City University of Hong Kong

‘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.’
– Dorothy J. Solinger, University of California, Irvine, US

Contributors: Anna L. Ahlers, Björn Alpermann, Daniele Brombal, Carolyn Cartier, Minglu Chen, Juan Chen, Nabo Chen, Ceren Ergenc, Xiang Gao, David S.G. Goodman, Reza Hasmath, Chenyang He, Wanyang Hu, Xian Huang, Philipp C.D. Immel, Kyle A. Jaros, Genia Kostka, Chen Li, Sitao Li, Yiran Li, Frank Lefeng Lin, Ning Liu, Carlos Wing-Hung Lo, Tak-Wing Ngo, Xuefei Ren, Beibei Tang, Jessica C. TeeDemonstrating 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.ts, Juan Wang, Mark Yaolin Wang, Andrew Wedeman, Natalie W.M. Wong, Keping Wu, Puzhou Wu, Qiang Zha, Zhao Zhang, Xueguang Zhou

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