The Way of Governance in a Harmonious Society - Narratives from Leaders

Author: Wang Mengkui, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-10-01
Features: Strengthening and improving public administration is not only a key starting point for deepening reform but also an urgent need for building a harmonious socialist society. To enhance the level of public administration, with approval from the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the China Development Research Center has been collaborating with Tsinghua University and Harvard University since 2002 to organize an annual Advanced Public Management Training Program. The training targets mainly deputy department-level leaders from central government departments and local government bureaus. The methodology combines theoretical learning with summarizing practical experience, and participants are required to write a case study based on their work experience upon graduation. This book is a collection of selected case studies written by participants, totaling 36 cases, covering various aspects such as the reform of government management systems, urban construction and management, crisis management and mass incidents, resources and ecological environments, education and public health, as well as economic reform and development. The events described are specific, but the spirit they embody has universal significance. We extend our gratitude to these leaders who share their insights on harmonious governance. With great passion, they have provided vivid case studies of strengthening and improving public administration, coordinating interests, resolving social conflicts, and promoting social harmony based on the actual conditions of their regions and departments. A harmonious society is not one without conflicts. During China's primary stage of socialism, complex contradictions exist in the process of economic system reform, the transformation of economic growth models, and social transformation. The process of reform and development is also one of continuously resolving social conflicts. As old conflicts are resolved, new ones emerge under new conditions. Only by conducting in-depth and meticulous analysis of contradictions and adopting appropriate methods to resolve them, preventing localized issues from escalating into systemic ones and non-antagonistic conflicts from turning into antagonistic ones, and making every effort to reduce factors of disharmony while increasing harmonious elements, can we achieve the goals of reform and development more smoothly. This should be an approach throughout the entire process of building a harmonious socialist society and achieving modernization.