Advancing the Continuous Innovation and Development of Governance Theory Research

The overall goal of further deepening reform comprehensively is to continue improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and to advance the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. Since the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC [1]1 "Republic" (共和) and "consultation" (商量) refer to traditional Chinese political concepts emphasizing collective decision-making and deliberation, distinct from modern Western republicanism. explicitly set the overall goal of deepening reform comprehensively, China’s philosophy and social sciences community has taken governance modernization as an important proposition for in-depth research, and China’s governance theory research has achieved many new results. Contemporary China is undergoing the most extensive and profound social transformation in its history, and is also carrying out the most grand and unique practical innovation in human history. Adhering to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, governance theory research based on the new practice of the New Era is showing vigorous vitality and broad prospects for innovation, and will contribute to constructing an independent knowledge system for China.

进一步全面深化改革的总目标是继续完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度，推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化。自党的十八届三中全会明确提出全面深化改革的总目标，我国哲学社会科学界把治理现代化作为重要命题进行深入研究，我国治理理论研究取得诸多新成果。当代中国正经历着我国历史上最为广泛而深刻的社会变革，也正在进行着人类历史上最为宏大而独特的实践创新。坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，基于新时代新实践的治理理论研究展现出蓬勃生机活力和广阔创新前景，将为建构中国自主的知识体系作出贡献。

Providing Rich Resources for Innovation in Governance Theory Research

为治理理论研究创新提供丰富资源

Since the New Era, our Party has led the people in advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, achieving many new progresses, breakthroughs, and accomplishments in both theory and practice. These constitute the most fundamental and important source of knowledge for the innovation of governance theory research in the New Era.

新时代以来，我们党领导人民推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化，在理论和实践上取得诸多新进展、新突破和新成就，构成了新时代治理理论研究创新最基础、最重要的知识来源。

General Secretary Xi Jinping, proceeding from the overall and long-term development of the Party and the state’s undertakings, has published a series of important expositions on advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, achieving many important theoretical innovations and breakthroughs. For example, there is deep reflection at the historical level: General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “Our country’s current national governance system is

习近平总书记从党和国家事业发展的全局和长远出发，围绕推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化发表了一系列重要论述，在理论上有许多重要创新和突破。比如，有历史层面的纵深思考：习近平总书记指出，“我国今天的国家治理体系，是在我国历史传承、文化传统、经济社会发展的基础上长期发展、渐进改进、内生性演化的结果”，明确了我国国家治理体系从哪里来，坚定了人们完善国家治理体系的定力和自信；有整体层面的系统谋划：习近平总书记指出，“必须完整理解和把握全面深化改革的总目标，这是两句话组成的一个整体，即完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度、推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化。我们的方向就是中国特色社会主义道路”，明确了国家治理现代化整体布局的基本方向和根本要求；有实现路径的设计：习近平总书记指出，“法治是国家治理体系和治理能力的重要依托”“法治体系是国家治理体系的骨干工程”，法治建设成为国家治理现代化的重要路径；还有运行层面的科学方法：习近平总书记强调，“坚持系统治理、依法治理、综合治理、源头治理”，创造性建构了中国特色的治理运行机制，实现治理方式和治理环节的全方位协同；等等。实践中，我们党深化党和国家机构改革、健全党的领导制度体系、完善中国特色社会主义法治体系、完善国家安全体系……深入推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化成为新时代我们党治国理政实践的重要组成部分。

The theoretical and practical achievements of our Party in advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity in the New Era have pointed the correct direction for governance theory research, provided a wealth of research objects, and also raised many unique questions that can serve as points of innovation. This helps researchers break free from the inherent perspectives of Western governance theory, explore and analyze the laws of governance from the highly efficient governance practice of a major developing country, refine concepts, viewpoints, and theories with subjectivity, originality, and distinctiveness, and form a governance discourse rooted in China's soil, based on China's national conditions, and aimed at solving China's problems.

新时代我们党推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的理论和实践成果，为治理理论研究指明了正确方向，提供了丰富的研究对象，也提出了许多独特的、可成为创新原点的问题。这有助于研究者跳出西方治理理论的固有视野，从一个发展中大国高效能的治理实践中探索分析治理规律，提炼具有主体性、原创性、标识性的概念、观点、理论，形成扎根中国土壤、立足中国国情、解决中国问题的治理话语。

Characteristics of China's Governance Theory Research in the New Era

新时代我国治理理论研究的特点

Since the beginning of the New Era, based on comprehensive and deep-seated governance practice, Chinese researchers have striven to overcome the shortcomings of previous governance theory research, keeping pace with the steps of comprehensively deepening reform, and promoting the continuous deepening and expansion of governance theory research, achieving significant progress in research topics, research methods, research depth, and the transformation of results.

新时代以来，基于全方位、深层次的治理实践，我国研究者努力摆脱原有治理理论研究的缺陷，跟随全面深化改革的步伐，推动治理理论研究不断深化拓展，在研究议题、研究方法、研究深度、成果转化等方面取得重要进展。

Enhanced practicality. In advancing the modernization of national governance, our Party not only emphasizes top-level design but also attaches great importance to the method of pilot projects, being adept at extracting experience from the grassroots. This practice-oriented guidance leads researchers to focus on the rich and varied practical scenes in the process of national governance modernization in the New Era, such as the reform of Party and state institutions, the reform of the household registration system, the implementation of the negative list system for market access, and explorations in digital governance in various localities. From these, they summarize and refine empirical materials and research topics with Chinese characteristics, striving for academic construction from multiple dimensions such as state and society, government and market, and central and local authorities. This has propelled governance theory research to break out of the rut of the dichotomy between theory and practice, making it one of the most active research fields in disciplines such as political science and public administration. Governance theory began to emerge in Western countries roughly in the 1990s, primarily revolving around the relationships among the state, society, and the market, with the goals of sustainable social order and maximized public interest, focusing on the acquisition and operation of public power and the participation and interaction processes of relevant actors. The rise of Western governance theory stemmed from the needs of administrative and management practices in reality. However, the governance structure, governance objectives, and governance operational mechanisms of Western countries are fundamentally different from those of China. If Chinese researchers only confine themselves to using Western governance theory to explain China's governance practice, they will not only fail to draw tenable conclusions but will also, over the long term, lose the driving force for academic innovation.

实践性增强。我们党推进国家治理现代化，既注重顶层设计，也十分注重试点先行的方法，善于从基层提炼经验。这种注重实践的导向，引导研究者把目光聚焦于新时代国家治理现代化进程中丰富多彩的实践场景，比如，党和国家机构改革、户籍制度改革、市场准入负面清单制度实施、各地数字治理探索等，从中总结提炼具有中国特色的经验素材和研究议题，从国家和社会、政府和市场、中央和地方等多个维度努力进行学术建构。这推动治理理论研究突破理论与实践二分的窠臼，成为政治学、公共管理等学科中十分活跃的研究领域之一。治理理论大约从20世纪90年代开始在西方国家兴起，主要围绕国家、社会、市场的关系，以社会秩序可持续和公共利益最大化为目标，重点关注公共权力的获得和运行以及相关主体的参与和互动过程。西方治理理论的兴起，源于现实中行政实践、管理实践等的需要。而西方国家的治理架构、治理目标、治理运行机制等与我国存在根本差异。如果我国研究者只局限于运用西方治理理论对我国治理实践进行解释，不仅无法得出立得住脚的结论，而且长期下去就会丧失学术创新原动力。

Systematic expansion. The governance of a major country has the characteristics of a major country. Our Party plans and advances the modernization of governance from an overall perspective, avoiding piecemeal adjustments or fragmented repairs, and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity to produce an overall effect and achieve overall results. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The national governance system and governance capacity are the concentrated embodiment of a country's system and its system implementation capacity; the two complement each other, and relying on either one alone to govern the country will not work." From the very beginning of comprehensively deepening reform, our Party has coordinated the advancement of the modernization of the national governance system and the modernization of governance capacity. Different countries have their own governance systems, but governance capacity varies, to a greater or lesser extent, due to differences in objective conditions and subjective efforts. Introducing governance capacity into governance theory helps to resolve theoretical dilemmas in Western governance theory, such as difficulties in assigning responsibility and poor feasibility and effectiveness, guiding academia to create a uniquely Chinese governance theory discourse around the integrated topic of governance system and governance capacity. Currently, in terms of theoretical sources, Marxist state theory and the people-oriented thought of fine traditional Chinese culture, the concept of governance under heaven, the governing tradition of "republic" and "consultation," and the political wisdom of "being inclusive and seeking common ground while reserving differences" have all been integrated into governance theory research, enriching the theoretical analytical framework. In terms of research breadth, from Party building, government governance, social governance, and market governance to urban governance, rural governance, border governance, and global governance, governance theory research has become more three-dimensional and comprehensive. The systematic nature of governance practice has prompted academia to change its previous tendency toward fragmented research, striving to generate a relatively complete knowledge system of governance and continuously improve the level of research.

系统性拓展。大国治理有大国的特点。我们党从整体层面谋划推进治理现代化，不零敲碎打调整，不碎片化修补，推动国家治理体系和治理能力现代化形成总体效应、取得总体效果。习近平总书记指出：“国家治理体系和治理能力是一个国家的制度和制度执行能力的集中体现，两者相辅相成，单靠哪一个治理国家都不行。”全面深化改革伊始，我们党就统筹推进国家治理体系现代化和治理能力现代化。各国有各自的治理体系，但治理能力由于客观情况和主观努力的差异又有或大或小的差距。把治理能力引进治理理论之中，有利于解决西方治理理论中责任归属困难、可行性和有效性差等理论困境，引导学术界围绕治理体系和治理能力一体化议题创造独具中国特色的治理理论话语。当前，从理论来源上说，马克思主义国家理论以及中华优秀传统文化的民本思想，天下共治理念，“共和”“商量”的施政传统，“兼容并包、求同存异”的政治智慧等都被融入治理理论研究之中，理论分析框架更为丰富；从研究广度上说，从党的建设、政府治理、社会治理、市场治理到城市治理、乡村治理、边疆治理、全球治理等，治理理论研究更加立体和全面。治理实践的系统性促使学术界改变以往碎片化的研究倾向，努力生成相对完整的治理知识体系，不断提高研究水平。

Enhancement of autonomy. After governance theory entered the field of vision of Chinese scholars, scholars elaborated on governance theory from different aspects based on the actual needs of China’s reform, development, and stability, combining the Chinese context and practice. Although in the past Chinese academia conducted research around the state, society, the market, and their interrelations and formed corresponding theoretical paradigms, on the whole these studies often explored only one aspect of governance, paying more attention to the introduction or transformation of related fields such as state theory and party theory, and the subjectivity and originality of the research were still insufficient. In current Chinese governance theory research, basic knowledge, constructive knowledge, and integrated knowledge are continuously growing and mutually reinforcing, and the autonomy of knowledge production has been enhanced. In terms of basic knowledge, a typical example is that in research related to political parties, the state, and government, greater emphasis is placed on the study of Party building in the New Era. As the ruling party, the Communist Party of China is not only the leader in constructing the national governance system but also the guide and practitioner in enhancing governance capacity, and it is the fundamental guarantee for realizing “China’s governance.” Party leadership and Party building have become important perspectives for explaining China’s governance vitality and effectiveness. Constructive knowledge is generated based on new governance practices in the New Era. For example, research on government responsibilities based on the practice of Party and state institutional reform, and research on government efficiency centered on the “maximum one visit” government service reform, are all fertile ground for the production of constructive knowledge. Integrated knowledge synthesizes basic knowledge and constructive knowledge and uses the internal logic of China’s governance to deduce, induce, refine, and summarize, such as research on the people’s city concept. The people’s city concept transcends Western urban governance concepts, responding to the fundamental propositions of urban governance with Chinese values and Chinese solutions. As a comprehensive field, different types of knowledge can interact and compound under this topic, pushing research to advance in depth.

自主性提升。治理理论进入中国学者的视野后，学者们基于我国改革发展稳定的实际需要，结合中国语境和实践从不同方面对治理理论进行阐述。虽然以往我国学界围绕国家、社会、市场及其相互关系等进行研究并形成相应理论范式，但从整体上看，这些研究往往从治理的某一侧面进行探讨，更多关注国家理论、政党理论等相关领域的引介或改造，研究的主体性、原创性还不够。在当前我国治理理论研究中，基础性知识、建构性知识、集成性知识不断增长并相互促进，知识生产的自主性提升。在基础性知识方面，比较典型的是在政党、国家与政府相关研究中，更加重视新时代党的建设研究。作为执政党，中国共产党既是国家治理体系建构的领导者，更是治理能力提升的引领者和实践者，是实现“中国之治”的根本保证。党的领导和建设成为解释我国治理活力和效能的重要视角。建构性知识基于新时代治理新实践而生成。比如基于党和国家机构改革实践开展的政府职责研究，围绕“最多跑一次”政务服务改革的政府效能研究等，都是建构性知识产生的沃土。集成性知识综合基础性知识和建构性知识并以我国治理内在逻辑来进行演绎、归纳、提炼和总结，比如人民城市理念研究。人民城市理念超越西方的城市治理理念，以中国价值、中国方案回应了城市治理中的根本命题。作为一个综合场域，不同类型的知识可以在这一议题下互动复合，促使研究向纵深推进。

Issues requiring attention in governance theory research

治理理论研究需要关注的议题

On the new journey of the New Era, facing the grand practice of comprehensively building a strong country and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, to continue promoting innovation in governance theory research, we can focus on studying the following issues.

新时代新征程，面向以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的宏阔实践，继续推进治理理论研究创新，可以重点关注研究以下议题。

Study governance issues in the context of Chinese-path modernization. Advancing Chinese-path modernization is a systematic project; turning its Chinese characteristics into successful practice and unique advantages requires long-term effort, and in this process more governance practice innovations will inevitably emerge, providing rich topics for governance theory research. It is necessary to closely follow the historical evolution, Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles of Chinese-path modernization, combine new trends and new directions in governance in the digital age, and refine and excavate important topics. Theoretical breakthroughs can be pursued by starting from major relationships such as economy and society, government and market, efficiency and fairness, vitality and order, and development and security, striving to achieve disciplinary breakthroughs and form a new paradigm of governance theory research based on Chinese-path modernization.

研究中国式现代化背景下的治理问题。推进中国式现代化是一项系统工程，将其中国特色变为成功实践、独特优势需要付出长期努力，在此进程中也必将产生更多治理实践创新，这为治理理论研究提供了丰富的议题。要紧扣中国式现代化的历史演进、中国特色、本质要求、重大原则等，结合数字时代治理的新动向、新趋势，提炼挖掘重要议题。可以从经济和社会、政府和市场、效率和公平、活力和秩序、发展和安全等重大关系切入来进行理论攻关，争取实现学理性突破，形成基于中国式现代化的治理理论研究新范式。

Study the relationship between institutional construction and governance. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “Reform and opening up in the New Era has many new connotations and characteristics, and a very important point is that the weight of institutional construction has increased.” After long-term effort, we have constructed an interconnected institutional framework covering all aspects of governing the Party, the state, and the military, and domestic and foreign affairs, national defense, and so on, pushing various state institutions to become more mature and more定型 [2]2 The Chinese term 定型 (dìngxíng) means “to become finalized in form” or “to be set in a fixed pattern,” here referring to institutions becoming more mature and stable in their structure and function., laying a solid foundation for better transforming institutional advantages into governance effectiveness. Institutions are the fundamental basis for governance, and governance is the concrete implementation of institutions. Governance and institutional construction are interconnected and mutually supportive, together constituting important content of governance theory research. For example, institutional construction principles such as top-level design, overall planning, and establishing the new before abolishing the old, and institutional construction paths such as consolidating fundamental institutions, improving basic institutions, and innovating important institutions, all require in-depth theoretical study. At the concrete level, exploration can be conducted from aspects such as institutional generation, institutional culture, institutional implementation, and institutional coordination. We should promote academia to conduct more research around institutional construction and governance, explore the logic of systematic integration and coordinated efficiency among institutions, reveal the internal mechanism of transforming institutional advantages into governance effectiveness, and more deeply uncover the laws of the operation and development of China’s national governance modernization.

研究制度建设和治理的关系。习近平总书记指出，“新时代改革开放具有许多新的内涵和特点，其中很重要的一点就是制度建设分量更重”。经过长期努力，我们构建了涵盖治党治国治军、内政外交国防等方方面面相互衔接的制度框架，推动国家各方面制度更加成熟更加定型，为把制度优势更好转化为治理效能奠定了坚实基础。制度是治理的根本依据，治理是制度的具体落实。治理与制度建设相互联系、相互支撑，共同构成了治理理论研究的重要内容。比如，顶层设计、总体谋划、先立后破等制度建设原则，筑牢根本制度、完善基本制度、创新重要制度的制度建设路径，这些都需要从理论上进行深入研究。具体层面上，可以从制度生成、制度文化、制度执行、制度协调等方面进行探讨。推动学术界更多围绕制度建设和治理开展研究，探究制度间系统集成、协同高效的逻辑，揭示制度优势向治理效能转化的内在机理，把我国国家治理现代化运行发展的规律更深刻揭示出来。

Study the relationship between the modern civilization of the Chinese nation and governance. A country’s governance system is determined by that country’s historical heritage, cultural traditions, and level of economic and social development. At the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the Second Integration “allows us to fully utilize the precious resources of fine traditional Chinese culture in a broader cultural space, exploring theoretical and institutional innovation oriented toward the future.” Over more than five thousand years of history, the Chinese nation has created a splendid Chinese civilization, formed rich governance experience and wisdom, and laid the cultural foundation and spiritual core for the continuous evolution and endogenous improvement of China’s national governance system from tradition to modernity. From both historical and practical perspectives, the outstanding continuity, innovativeness, unity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness of Chinese civilization are all highly theoretically related to national governance. It is precisely these outstanding characteristics that give China’s national governance unique advantages and construction strategies distinct from other countries. Advancing innovation in governance theory research must be closely integrated with the vivid practice of building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, focusing on studying the role and influence of culture and civilization on governance. Once a deep integration between the two is achieved theoretically, it will help to profoundly grasp the cultural roots of national governance in the development of Chinese-path modernization, enhance the cultural identity of national governance, provide more abundant spiritual impetus for the modernization of national governance, and offer a continuous source of ideological resources for enhancing the autonomy and originality of governance theory research.

研究中华民族现代文明与治理的关系。一个国家的治理体系，是由这个国家的历史传承、文化传统、经济社会发展水平决定的。在文化传承发展座谈会上，习近平总书记指出，“第二个结合”“让我们能够在更广阔的文化空间中，充分运用中华优秀传统文化的宝贵资源，探索面向未来的理论和制度创新”。中华民族在五千多年历史中创造了灿烂的中华文明，形成了丰富的治理经验和智慧，奠定了我国国家治理体系从传统到现代连续演化和内生性改进的文化根基和精神内核。从历史和现实来看，中华文明突出的连续性、创新性、统一性、包容性、和平性无一不与国家治理有着高度的理论关联。正是这些突出特性使得我国国家治理具有区别于其他国家的独特优势与建设方略。推进治理理论研究创新，要与建设中华民族现代文明的生动实践紧密结合，注重研究文化、文明对治理的作用和影响。一旦在理论上实现两者深度结合，将有助于在中国式现代化发展中深刻把握国家治理的文化根脉，增进国家治理的文化认同，为国家治理现代化提供更为丰沛的精神动力，为增强治理理论研究的自主性、原创性提供源源不断的思想资源。

[The author is Dean of the School of Government, East China University of Political Science and Law]

【作者为华东政法大学政府管理学院院长】

Online editor: Ma Jingren

网络编辑：马京仁