Book contents
- The Logic of Governance in China
- The Logic of Governance in China
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures and Tables
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- 1 Introduction: The Logic of Governance in China
- Part I The Logic of Governance: Institutions and Mechanisms
- Part II The Logic of Governance and Government Behavior
- 5 Bureaucratic Bargaining in the Chinese Government
- 6 Collusion among Local Governments
- 7 “Muddling Through” in the Chinese Bureaucracy
- 8 Inverted Soft Budget Constraints and Resource Extraction
- Part III The Logic of Governance and Chinese Society
- Glossary
- References
- Index
7 - “Muddling Through” in the Chinese Bureaucracy
from Part II - The Logic of Governance and Government Behavior
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 December 2022
- The Logic of Governance in China
- The Logic of Governance in China
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures and Tables
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- 1 Introduction: The Logic of Governance in China
- Part I The Logic of Governance: Institutions and Mechanisms
- Part II The Logic of Governance and Government Behavior
- 5 Bureaucratic Bargaining in the Chinese Government
- 6 Collusion among Local Governments
- 7 “Muddling Through” in the Chinese Bureaucracy
- 8 Inverted Soft Budget Constraints and Resource Extraction
- Part III The Logic of Governance and Chinese Society
- Glossary
- References
- Index
Summary
This chapter continues my inquiry into the role of the Chinese bureaucracy in China’s governance by examining local bureaucratic behavior in policy-implementation processes. The previous chapter focused on a class of phenomena in bureaucratic collusion, this chapter examines another class of behavioral patterns characterized by “muddling through” in policy implementation – adopting ad hoc, improvised strategies; exhibiting a course of action that focuses on short-term, incremental gains; and sequential adjustments in strategy as conditions change, leading to patterns of shifting courses of action over time. The theme of this chapter is that bureaucratic behavior is governed by multiple bureaucratic logics that often generate inconsistent, or even conflicting, demands on local officials in their work environment, leading to a course of action characteristic of muddling through.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Logic of Governance in ChinaAn Organizational Approach, pp. 164 - 190Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022