Crisis Rhetoric and Policy Change in China

This book explores how China's political system responds to crises, particularly those involving widespread doubt about policy paradigms or the political order. It argues that crisis can create opportunities for advocacy groups to challenge established policies, but the process of crisis-induced policy change in non-west regimes like China has not been adequately addressed. As China faces COVID-19 and climate change disasters, this dynamic model of crisis and recuperation will offer valuable insights for scholars of Chinese and global politics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 253 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2023
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate dynamics of China's political system in response to crises, recognizing that such challenges cannot be solely managed through conventional on-the-ground incident management. Crises arise when widespread skepticism emerges about established policy paradigms or the overall political order, creating a situation where the impact cannot be contained through mere reactive measures. In pluralist democracies, crises can provide a window of opportunity for advocacy groups to challenge prevailing policies, leveraging the heightened uncertainty and ambiguity that characterize such situations. The political conflict between different actors engaged in defining an uncertain and ambiguous context presents them with a unique opportunity to effect significant policy changes through crisis-induced policy shifts.

However, the process of crisis-induced policy change, particularly in non-Western regimes like China, has received limited attention in academic discourse. As China's leadership emphasizes the pursuit of legitimacy in its "victory" over COVID-19, and the world braces itself for an era of climate change disasters, this dynamic model of crisis and recuperation holds significant implications for scholars of Chinese and global politics. By examining the ways in which China's political system responds to crises, this book sheds light on the complex interplay between power, governance, and public opinion, offering valuable insights into the country's political development and its role in shaping the global political landscape.

Weight: 366g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811677656
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022