| ID | 190457 |
| Title Proper | L'Ancien Régime Legacy of the Chinese Governance |
| Other Title Information | Grand Union and the Common Good |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Zhang, Yan |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Governance is essentially a dynamic mechanism to promote collective action for the common good. The Chinese concept of the public/common (gōnggòng) and its political philosophy of Grand Union governance provide an alternative perspective for understanding such dynamics from the unit of family through institutions to the state-embedded society. Three critical arguments with interconnected elements are analysed: governance as a dynamic mechanism; review of the historical, philosophical and political legacy of Chinese governance; and proposal of a framework for governance of the Grand Union. It concludes that ‘Chinese characteristics’, such as diverse adaptations, gradual flexibility, experimental pragmatism, and polycentric balance with a strong central state are all deeply rooted in its pre-revolutionary ancien régime. In order to understand these seemingly different institutions and values, we need to revisit their original functionality of governing for the common good. |
| `In' analytical Note | East Asia: An International Quarterly Vol. 40, No.2; Jun 2023: p.101–131 |
| Journal Source | East Asia: An International Quarterly Vol: 40 No 2 |
| Key Words | Common Good ; Chinese Governance ; Pre-revolutionary Ancien Régime ; Gōnggòng ; Grand Union |