City Governance in China

Market in State

• A system where the market is embedded within state institutional mechanisms.
• State participates through market actors/approaches.
• Three levels of operation:
  • Grassroots level
  • Middle ground level
  • National level

Grassroots Governance

• Community-level self-governance in China involves citizens managing affairs in organizations/communities with Party support.
• Democratic rights include elections, consultation, decision-making, management, and oversight.
• Examples of organizations involved:
  • Villagers committees
  • Urban residents committees
  • Trade unions

Urban Neighbourhoods

• Pre-reform era used the work unit (danwei) system.
• Street office is not a level of government.
• Communities managed by street offices and residents’ committees.
• Street offices play key management role in Chinese cities, organizing civic affairs.
• Two-Tier System:
  • Cities
  • Districts
  • Streets and Communities
  • Residents' Committees

Grid Management

• “$Xiaoshi buchu wangge, dashi buchu shequ$” means resolving small disputes within the ‘grid’ and conflicts within the community.