This book introduces fifteen representative philosophers in ancient China, including Confucius, Laozi, Mencius, Zhuangzi, influential Neo-Taoist scholars, and prominent Neo-Confucian thinkers. It reveals the fundamental problems of each philosopher, clarifies the connotation of the concept as well as the specific reference of the problem, and presents the inherent context and structure of each philosopher's thoughts. Further, the author analyzes a selection of these ancient philosophers-- main propositions and demonstrates the argumentation and proof processes behind the basic philosophical insights. As such, this book is a valuable academic resource for scholars and the interested readers wanting to gain an in-depth understanding of ancient Chinese philosophy today.
Although numerous studies have emphasized the importance of local knowledge and science, as well as collaboration between local people and scientists in social and environmental governance, it is often assumed that local people produce and possess only local knowledge while scientists have only scientific knowledge. The aim of this study was to explore whether and how the local knowledge of scientists influences their impact on governance performance, using desertification control in northern China as a typical case. This research produces three major findings. (1) Scientists' local knowledge did improve their impact on desertification control. (2) Among the three important types of local knowledge, an understanding of local social relationships, wisdom, and methods was more important than an understanding of local conditions. (3) Successful applications of local knowledge by scientists shared seven collaborative factors that stressed the scientists' local knowledge, the scientists' behaviours, and laws and regulations.
The contradiction between experts' research (or theory) and practitioners' practice has plagued public administration for over a century. However, this study emphasizes that experts themselves are not exactly the same. To address the contradiction between research and practice and to improve the role of experts, we need not only to improve the collaboration between experts and practitioners but also to strengthen the collaboration between research-oriented and practice-oriented experts. Using desertification control experiences in 12 counties in northern China as policy examples and through case studies and analysis of a survey of more than 4000 individuals, the study finds that the collaboration with high participation of both research-oriented and practice-oriented experts had the highest governance performance, due to reducing information and knowledge asymmetry, enhancing trust, and strengthening expert participation in public governance. The study also reveals that there are eight institutional design principles that are important for the success of experts' participation. These principles emphasized knowledge and experts themselves, experts' relationship with other social actors, and external support (support from laws and regulations and financial support). The study is enlightening to policy makers and public administrators in their endeavor to integrate research (theory) and practice, design public policy, and maximize the use of their knowledge and expertise to advance the cause of public administration.
An identity crisis has plagued public administration for over a century. The core of the crisis is how to address the relationship between public administration and the three major related disciplines—political science, management, and law; especially the first two—and whether public administration is an independent scientific subject. By studying the discipline identity problem of public administration using the three-perspective framework of politics, management, and law developed by Rosenbloom, this article argues that the developmental history of Chinese public administration is also a history of the relationship between public administration and the three major related disciplines. Furthermore, after comparing United States and Chinese public administration, the article suggests that we can define public administration as a dynamic balance and integrative science across the three major related disciplines by placing greater emphasis on administration, public management, and the laws and rules of administration and public management. This new definition suggests that seeking dynamic balance and synthesis is the nature of public administration, differentiates public administration from other disciplines, and stresses its status as an independent discipline. Thus, we do not need to be frightened of this feature of public administration or reframe it but must instead admit that this unique feature represents a specific advantage of public administration. Furthermore, this view provides a new way to dismiss the nightmare-like identity crisis faced by public administration.
China's relationship with Africa is viewed as strategic and complementary by both regions, politically and economically. The article analyses the relationship within the framework of China's official policy, looking at what both sides stand to gain. Adapted from the source document.
Although existing literature has stressed the influences of various factors on job performance, the influence of the perceptions of promotion opportunities on job performance is frequently disregarded in the majority of studies on public sector human resource management. Using the survey data from Chinese junior civil servants, the study revealed that perceptions of promotion opportunities can directly influence both task performance and contextual performance, and perceptions of promotion opportunities can strengthen task performance and contextual performance by the mediating role of job engagement. It was also indicated that perceptions of promotion opportunities were influenced by rank, supervisor-subordinate relationships, and promotion justice. Thus, the study developed a conceptual framework that included the variables laid-above to understand the mechanisms of the influence of perceptions of promotion opportunities on job performance. (J Contemp China/GIGA)
Problem formulation is a critical step in the public policy process. Nonetheless, this importance is not listed in regular policy textbooks and is often overlooked. This study uses the case of sandstorm-combating in Minqin County, China, to illustrate the problem. Through statistical analysis of the data, the authors have demonstrated how policy formulation could be set on the wrong premise and lead to wrong policy consequences, particularly in the case of environmental issues for which full information is not readily available. In conclusion, the authors argue that conscientious attention to policy problem formation, careful empirical analysis, and collaborative participatory efforts are essential to ensure public policy success.
