Policy Change In Chinese Local Governments

Using the advocacy coalition framework, this paper attempts to explain the policy change in Chinese local governments based on the case of Xiamen PX project. This study found that, when tensions of policy core appear between local governments and citizens, citizens tend to use guidance instruments, exerting pressure for governments to make compromises. The article argues that, under the condition of un-perfect information, even if there exists not enough technical resources,policy-oriented learning occurs between two coalitions that have immediate-level conflicts. Therefrom, this argument challenges hypothesis of advocacy coalition framework. In terms of the relationship of belief and interest, the application of advocacy coalition framework is misleading. I demonstrate that belief system contains interest, rather than separated. Deep core actually is the abstracted description of interests.