Loading…
The Institutional Logic of Chinese Governance
Drawing on Max Weber’s authority theory and incomplete contract frameworks, Zhou Xueguang’s *The Institutional Logic of Chinese Governance* unpacks the enduring paradox at the heart of China’s statecraft: the tension between a centralized, unified system and the need for adaptive, effective governance across vast, diverse territories. Traversing imperial history to contemporary China, the book dissects the dynamic interplay between state power and bureaucratic authority—from the imperial monarch-bureaucracy balance to the modern party-state relationship. It introduces innovative analytical tools, including the control rights theory (breaking authority into goal-setting, inspection, and incentive powers) and administrative contracting, to explain governance modes like campaign-style mobilization and bureaucratic collusion. Grounded in fieldwork (such as the FS Town case studies of rural road projects and village elections), the book reveals how grassroots actors navigate conflicting pressures through patchwork responses and reverse soft budget constraints. This work offers a nuanced, systematic framework to understand China’s unique governance mechanisms, their historical roots, and contemporary challenges, making it essential for anyone seeking to grasp the logic behind China’s stability and economic growth.
Understand the Book
Choose how you want to explore this book.
Explore with AI
Ask about the book's ideas and how they relate to your life.