中欧社会论坛 - China Europa ForumThe Model and Path of the Reform for Rural Public Services in Counties of China – A Theoretical and Empirical Study: From the “Unilateral Supply of State” to “Collaborative Governance of Society”
this article is the work on a major project topic to bid for funding from the National Social Science Association in 2007 (07ZD030)
Authors: Fang Kun
Published by Journal of the Party School of C.P.C. Qingdao Municipal Committee (Qingdao Administration College), 2009, No. 4
1. The future model of rural public services in counties
(1) Screening and selection
Xiao, Wentao (2008) through the comparative analysis of the differences between the selection of “traditional style” tools and a collaborative governance that encompasses a “new governance” theory, indicated that the government is not the only centre of power, the private sector and the third sector, but as long as they receive recognition from the public, they can also become the centre of power in the different levels. In terms of the selection and application of tools, service-oriented government should seek the full cooperation of all systems, and use collaborative governance as a tool to achieve the goal of public satisfaction.
In terms of resolving the problem of “how the new rural construction can break away from the old ruts of the traditional model of ‘unilateral supply of state’ and work towards achieving the goal of coordinated development among the urban and rural areas at a more advanced level”, the article indicates that the future model of rural public services in counties will be led by the demands of farmers. Also, it will be mainly government-led and based on market operation. It will be a mutual cooperation of multi-centre governance (governments, enterprises, agencies, and farmers’ self-organisation, etc.) model of rural public services in counties, (referred to as “government-led + social collaboration” model, in short). “Collaboration-oriented government” is used as the dominant force to stimulate the multi-centred “good governance” of the political state and civil society, in jointly governing the rural public affairs of the counties. This model will greatly promote the coordinated supply of public services among the urban and rural areas, and ultimately achieve collaborative governance in the urban and rural areas.
(2) System Structure
1. Collaboration at the strategic level: the basic task of rural public services in counties is “to coordinate the harmonious development among the urban and rural areas”.
2. Collaboration at the structural level: this is the “meso level” of the model, according to the multi-unit cooperation’s collaborative mechanism to supply of rural public services.
3. Collaboration at the operational level: the way government should act to optimise its position at the bottom layer of the “pyramid” structure in the “government-led + social collaboration” model. It is a change in the function of the government, to strengthen and refine the rural public services and innovate the “centre of strength” in the governance model.
2. Interpretation of cases
(1) “The project on rural labour force transition” of the Changxing County, Zhejiang Province
Changxing County is one of the more developed areas in eastern China. In January 2004, Changxing Party Committee issued the “Outline of Integrated Action Plan for Changxing Urban and Rural Areas,” focusing on shortcomings of rural development in the county and by using collaborative thinking and applying integrated promotion strategies, it puts the “Project of Rural Labour Force Transition” into effect. Through relying on the “government-led + social collaboration” innovation mechanism, Changxing achieves great results in the Project of Rural Labour Force Transition, which highlights the benefits of “collaborative governance”.
1. The mainly government-led mechanism of the “party policy is that the ‘top leader’ takes full charge, the officials deal effectively with specific tasks, and all levels of work are well implemented”.
2. The collaborative service mechanism of “training centres + government s+ employment units + farmers”.
(2) Chengdu, “6335”
The practice of harmonious development in urban and rural areas of Chengdu is summarised as “6335”, namely “six decisions, three key projects, three concentrations, and five senses”. In terms of a coordinated construction program among the urban and rural areas, Chengdu is going towards the land transfer mode of “governments + companies + farmer households”. In terms of the agricultural industrialisation, a model of “leading enterprises + cooperative economic organisations+ farmer households” has been formed, which solves the current employment problems of farmers to a considerable degree; “views on the promotion of urban and rural employment” and relevant supporting documents were issued, to aim to establish a list of new measures such as a sound, integrated labour market system, employment and training system, and re-employment assistance system, employment support policy system and others for urban and rural areas. Chengdu explores the models of “environment for government innovation policy, economic resources activated by market, coordinated, harmonious development in urban and rural areas”, which is of general significance and valuable for promotion to other regions.