An Analysis Of The Mode Of Community Governance Under The Guidance Of Autonomy

Since the reform and opening-up over30years ago, China’s political, economic, social and cultural fields have undergone tremendous changes. The whole society and social life have started an unprecedented restructuring. The social management model, which was based on tickets and certificates, household registry, as well as work units, and which was suitable for the traditional planned economy, has gradually phased out. A new social management system, which fits the socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics, has been gradually established. This is symbolized by the gradual transition from the work unit system to the community stystem. After The Ministry of Civil Affairs decided on11districts of10cities across the country as "community development experimental zones", especially after the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the "Suggestions of the Ministry of Civil Affairs for the Promotion of Community Development across the Country" in November2000, an upsurge of community development spread all over China. More and more people have established their party affiliation, participated cultural activities, and purchased social security in their community. Community is increasingly becoming the focus point for various social groups, the meeting point of various interests, the residing place for social organizations; it’s also where social contradictions converge, where people join society, and where social life takes place. After years of exploration, different communities have built up their respective new community management models with distinctive characteristics to suit their respective ideas and actual situations.The community management system reform of Yantian, Shenzhen, is a pioneering project. Under the principle of autonomy, in a progressive way, it has gradually clarified the boundaries between government and society at the community level, adopted various strategies to engage community organizations to strengthen their respective duties, and initially realized the target of a strong state with a strong society. This article has firstly made a general introduction to the concept and emergence of community as well as the categories of community systems, and then from both an international perspective and a domestic one made a summary of the basic viewpoints about community system reform both in China and abroad. Afterwards, a specific analysis and deconstruction about the process and model of the community system reform of Yantian, Shenzhen, is made, so as to illustrate the unique values of the case.In addition, this article has analyzed the effect and limitations of the Yantian (Shenzhen) community system reform, trying to reveal its source of power and to explore the dilemma of community residents’lacking driving power for the practice of autonomy at the grassroots level. Despite a mild criticism on the weaknesses of the project, this article highly emphasizes the significance of promoting it in China. Therefore, the article tries to make a suggestion on how to further improve the implimentation of the community system reform at the grassroads level.