Gradual Empowerment-Hierarchical Embedding:Research On The Mechanism Of Social Governance Transition After Wenchuan Earthquake

In the face of disasters,changes in governance may delay or even hinder the process of development,and may also accelerate or even develop new development models.The stability and development of postdisaster reconstruction after Wenchuan earthquake,especially the post-disaster recovery and reconstruction system with Chinese characteristics,has shown great efficiency.China has provided experience for postdisaster reconstruction and management in the world.Based on the long-term observation of the Wenchuan earthquake-stricken areas,this paper points out that the social governance changes after the Wenchuan earthquake show the characteristics of “Progressive Empowerment-Hierarchical Embedding”,and on this basis,establishes a framework for analyzing the social governance changes after the Wenchuan earthquake.After comparing disaster cycle theory and social governance theory,the author constructs an analytical framework of “Progressive Empowerment-Hierarchical Embedding” from the perspective of government and society and under the theoretical paradigm of historical institutionalism,and further answers the practical questions: after the rapid recovery and reconstruction of social structure due to the violent earthquake,the system and governance are completed.How can the structure meet the needs of economic and social development?The study finds that: facing the social problems in different periods after the earthquake,the objectives of the system are different.Therefore,the combination of the system elements is different,with different logic,and maintain balance in a certain period of time.The interactive development of the central government,the local government in the aid-building area,the local government in the disaster-stricken area and the social forces takes place in an environment of institutional space and historical changes.The interaction between different levels of government and social forces dominates the process of social governance change,the interaction between different levels of government and social forces follows different logic,and “Progressive Empowerment-Hierarchical Embedding” is the feature of interaction between government and social forces after the disaster.The central government's top-level design determines the basic pattern of the development of social forces in the disaster-stricken areas.Under the pressure of “Political Championships” and achievements,the governments of the aid sites and the disaster-stricken areas choose to cooperate with social forces to accomplish the task of rehabilitation and reconstruction innovatively and efficiently.With the passage of time and the change of social governance tasks in earthquake-stricken areas in different time periods,the relationship between different levels of government and social forces is also changing.At the same time,social forces enter the governance structure at different levels through different strategies,and at the same time or at the same time embedding in different categories,providing advocacy,policy recommendations and complaints to the upper government,lobbying government officials,strengthening liaison with the lower government,and integrating through services.In the post-disaster social governance changes,although the government and social forces share legitimacy and financial resources,not only to strengthen the control of social forces,but also to a certain extent to increase their autonomy and empowerment effect.However,this is not on the premise of weakening the original strong autonomy and resource mobilization ability of the Party and the government,but on the basis of adhering to the principle and strategy of taking the government as the leading factor,taking “Strong Government-Strong Society” as the optimal target mode.Although the institutional backgrounds of different countries are different,the damage and loss caused by disasters are the same,and the problems to be solved by the government and society are similar.The postWenchuan earthquake reconstruction and management provides a new way of thinking for the post-disaster recovery and reconstruction of the world.National mobilization and cooperation with social forces are the important system design to promote the completion of post-disaster recovery and reconstruction,and the key to ensure that natural disasters will not further trigger social disasters.However,catastrophe and institutional changes caused by catastrophe will have far-reaching social consequences and social changes.Long-term institutional adjustment is also needed to guide social forces effectively.Empowerment,absorption and embedding are the key.