Research On The Pattern Of Governance Transformation In China

Since the reform & opening policy was implemented, our country has gradually transformed from traditional governance to modern governance. We have achieved great progress in this direction, which includes five aspects:from unitary governance to pluralistic governance, from centralization to decentralization, from rule by men to rule of law, from regulation government to service government, from intra-party democracy to social democracy. Success is great, but for further progress of Chinese society, we should advance the transformation process from traditional governance to modern governance further, and at this time some kind of major breakthrough is needed to challenge us to press on in this direction.With the "party governance----civil society governance" analysis frame, this paper reviews the governance transformation history from 1978 systemically and analyzes the present governance pattern and the transformation pattern inherent in the past 30 years. The author argues that we have made substantial success, but we are still being haunted by some engrained problems which includes:the substantial intensification of "the bipolar governance structure of bureaucracy vs. civilian" with increasing conflicts; the deepening structure intension between the transition of CCP and the development of rule of constitution in China; the inner institutional relation’s tension of power vs. power, power vs. rights, rights vs. rights; the low-level interaction and repetition of non-institutional game practices; the local patronage politics, structural corruption, the political influence of vested interest and the distorted combination between power and capital which gradually becomes a cancer of the healthy transformation process. At last, it is difficult to balance between long-term rationality and short-term rationality in governance transformation strategy. These problems wrest with each other and contribute to the dilemma of present-day governance transformation. Contemporary bipolar governance pattern (bureaucracy vs. civilian) cannot solve the dilemma fundamentally, on the contrary, it contributes these problems and the dilemma chiefly. Furthermore, the transformation pattern inherent in the past 30 years is so limited that it cannot meet the requirements of time and resolve these difficult problems effectively. And there are some oriented mistakes in the alternative patterns of governance transformation which were designed by scholars which include:to stray away from the fundamental principle of governance transformation, which be fixed as "the organic combination among leadership of CCP, popular sovereignty and rule of law"; deviation of the fundamental circumstances of our country or deviation of the essential value of modern governance, lack of creative combination of both; lack of theoretical insight or lack of practical feasibility; so, they cannot meet the essential requirements of future governance transformation. In order to find a proper pattern, this paper analyses the fundamental circumstances of China’s governance transformation, and the author argues that China will transform from traditional governance to modern governance inevitably as a historical trend, but the fundamental circumstances of China doom the process of governance transformation will be complicated and formidable. Subsequently, this paper ascertains and analyses the core problem that obsesses the long-term governance transformation of China. The author argues that the core problem is how to deal with the relation between transition of CCP and the development of rule of constitution in China. The author does not argue that if the CCP insists the totalitarian party building route, the creative combination and well-orientated interaction of both will be impossible and pluralistic party politics route has enough rationality nor has practical feasibility at present China. The author puts forward the third choice:transforming the leadership of CCP, and he argues that the creative combination and well-orientated interaction of both will be possible.Finally, this paper restructures the pattern of governance transformation in China. The author suggests that we should transform the bipolar governance pattern (bureaucracy vs. civilian) into tripolar governance pattern (bureaucracy vs. civilian, and CCP as the intermediary), and desert the traditional transformation pattern inherent in the past 30 years. Well interaction among bureaucracy, civilian societyt and the CCP is the governance transformation route and the ultimate modern governance pattern. Accordingly, the CCP should transform from an unlimited totalitarian party into a limited functional party. By that, we can advance the complete transition of CCP, remake the authority legitimacy of CCP both in the transformation process and in the ultimate modern governance structure, make sure the orderly transformation process and the achievement of our ultimate pursuit, and realize the real transformation from traditional governance to modern governance.