Introduction to the System of Local Government in China

Author: Xie Qingkui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-08-01
Features: This series of books is divided into two parts. The first part is case studies, which includes selecting one government level (from provincial, municipal, prefecture-level city to county, municipal, township) as the basis for case analysis, forming a series of research results such as Provincial Government Management, Prefecture-Level City Government Management, Municipal Government Management, County Government Management, Township Government Management, Town Government Management, and Special Administrative Region Government Management. The second part is theoretical research based on these case studies, forming theoretical works such as Analysis of the Chinese Government System, Economic Analysis of the Functions of the Chinese Government, and Introduction to the Government System of Local Governments in China. This is a series of books that combines theoretical research with case studies, integrating theory and practice. The research methods of this series show a trend of diversification, including structural-functionalism, case study, empirical research, new institutionalism, economic analysis, political analysis, and historical research, with the core being structural-functionalism. Structural-functionalism is one of the research methods in Western political science and is equally applicable to the study of public administration. This approach attempts to reveal the operational patterns of the administrative system by analyzing its structures and functions. Its basic premises are: the universality of administrative structures, the universality of administrative functions, the multifunctionality of administrative structures, and the fundamental function of administrative structures is to maintain the survival of the administrative system. These basic premises undoubtedly exist in the Chinese administrative system. Applying structural-functionalism helps understand the complex relationships between various political phenomena, administrative phenomena, and the relationship between administrative phenomena and social phenomena. It facilitates comprehensive research, opens a path for administrative analysis from the perspective of the interrelationship between parts and the whole, structure and function, and provides a new research framework. Structural-functionalism not only provides a new research method for this series but also offers a complete analytical framework.