14. Theoretical Predicaments in China’s Policy Science and the Path Towards Indigenization

A survey of some textbooks and reference books for graduate student examinations reveals that although social and economic factors are viewed as part of the political environment and included in the material covered, they are generally treated superficially. But when discussing the nature and characteristics of public policy, these textbooks emphasize their function in standardizing behavior and controlling society. For example, Zhang Jinma thinks that public policy is “a norm and guideline the Party and government use to standardize and guide the actions of organizations, groups and individuals. Its form of expression is laws, regulations, administrative decrees, and written and oral instructions by heads of government, and plans and policies for government activities.” (see Note 3) Chen Qingyun stresses, “Public policy is the government’s objectives the government at a particular time. It is a criterion of action formulated to direct the process of choosing, synthesizing, distributing and implementing the common interests of society” (see Note 4).

See Note 2.

A survey of some textbooks and reference books on graduate student examinations reveals that although social and economic factors are viewed as part of the political environment and included in the material covered, they are generally treated superficially. But when discussing the nature and characteristics of public policy, these textbooks emphasize their function in standardizing behavior and controlling society. For example, Zhang Jinma thinks that public policy is “a norm and guideline the Party and government use to standardize and guide the actions of organizations, and groups and individuals. Its form of expression is laws, regulations, administrative decrees, and written and oral instructions by heads of government, and plans and policies for government activities.” (see Note 3) Chen Qingyun stresses, “Public policy is the government’s objectives the government at a particular time. It is a criterion of action formulated to direct the process of choosing, synthesizing, distributing and implementing the common interests of society” (see Note 4).

The issue of the standardization and indigenization of social science became a subject of discussion in China in the mid-1990s. For the most part, the discussion concerned issues in the fields of sociology, anthropology, historiography, cultural studies and jurisprudence. (see Notes 13–15) However, the issues of standardization and indigenization have never been taken very seriously by policy scientists.