Shanghai Municipal Owners Committee Participates In The Study Of The Dilemma And Countermeasures Of Residential Community Governance

The housing system in China had gradually become more market-oriented and society-oriented since the reform of economic structure during the late 1970 s.Along with the deepening reform occurred then in the housing system,we witnessed the birth of the system of commercial residential apartments as a substitute for the system of welfare-oriented public housing distribution,and also the emerging parties of interests such as property services companies,property owners,etc.In the meantime,the reform led to the collapse of the ever existing housing system where individuals were attached to the company for housing.As the government struggled to streamline the administration and to delegate its power,the role of the owners in the community has changed ever since these innovations took place.Taking into account of all these drivers,dramatic changes in the authority and interests have taken place in the community,and the owners of the community are now being turned into a leading role in the administration and management of the community.The outcome,however,is rather unsatisfactory and even the opposite against what was initially planned to achieve.The owner committee should have been the core in community's self-administration system,while they either misuse or let go of their power.Ironically,it has caused confusion and conflicts in community management.This paper takes Laoximen sub-district in Huang Pu district as an example,describing the entire process of the community from normal governance to defeated governance.Via the method of case analysis and literature research,the paper analyzes the issues and aims to find out the reasons of the failure,which are summarized into four aspects.Firstly,the poor operation of the owners committee itself restricts its role in the administration and management of the community.Secondly,the owners committee emphasizes more on its rights than its obligations,and also lacks both the right channel to join the administration and the initiatives to make a change.Thirdly,the property service companies in nature take the control with limited checks and balances.Lastly,there are deficiency in management and dilemma in coordinating with residents committee,housing management office,and other parties.The author applies the meta-governance theory to the countermeasures of the dilemma in the administration and management of community by the owners committee,and puts forward the conclusion that the frontline government entities shall take theleading role in assisting the owner committee in proper administration and governance.More specifically speaking,sub-district office shall be recognized as the “meta” in community administration.Firstly,they shall balance the interests,enhance the relationship,and regulate the behaviors of the respective parties so as to avoid the conflict of interests.Secondly,they shall help the owner committee to get back on track and to exercise its role properly and efficiently.Thirdly,they shall encourage the participation of social organizations in governance,and guide the owners to participate in the administration and management.Lastly,they shall improve the design of the rules and enhance the mechanism of accountability of the responsibility,and enhance the information transparency.With all these measures in place,the author believes that the current dilemma faced by owners committee in community administration can be overcome,and all parties altogether shall be able to build a better-governed community.