简论中国地方政府创新研究的十个问题

Ten Issues on Chinese Local Governance Innovations

依据对中国地方政府创新奖获奖项目的初步分析,总结了有待进一步深入研究的十个问题。这些问题涉及到:如何定义政府创新,是否有中国特色的地方政府创新;危机、发展与政府创新形式之间存在怎样的关系;创新的主体条件是什么;集中体制能否有利于创新;创新需要怎样的物质条件;公民社会发展如何推动政府创新;政府创新的突破口在哪里;技术创新与制度创新有怎样的关系;创新是如何扩散和传播的;目前政府创新存在着哪些误区;等等。对这些问题的回答中,有一些是初步的,有待进一步调整和验证。但我们的基本判断是,对于中国这个庞大体制的成功变革和转型来说,发生在不同地方、不同部门的政府创新对于解决现有体制存在的问题、发挥体制内在的潜力以及提高现有体制的适应性和有效性方面是非常必要的。可以归纳出九个有利于创新成功的因素。它们包括,有能力和远见的创新者、团结协作的创新团体(领导集体)、周密而可行的创新计划、有力的实施者、上级的认可和支持、相关部门或机构的配合和支持、当地民众的理解与参与、有利的舆论环境以及创新者职位的升迁。在现有体制下,创新者的作用和上级(尤其是中央)的认可和支持最为关键。

Based on the analysis of Chinese Local Government Innovations Awards winners of the past three rounds, this article summarizes ten issues for further study. How to understand local governance in the context of China? What is the relationship between crisis and forms of innovations? What are the features of innovators? Whether is the centralized system facilitating innovations? What kinds of material conditions do innovations require? How does the civil society promote governments to innovate? Where are the breakthroughs for governments to innovate? What is the relationship between technological innovations and institutional innovations? How are innovations disseminated? What are the misunderstandings about government innovations? In answer to these questions, some judgments are tentative and need revising and testifying. Nonetheless, a general judgment can be made. As for such a dramatic and systemic transition undertaken in China, diverse innovations dispersed in various localities and departments are very necessary to solve existing issues, tap the latent power of the system and improve its adaptation and effectiveness. In this article, nine factors facilitating successful innovations are found, including capable and far-sighting innovators, cooperative-oriented leadership, detailed and practical innovation plans, capable implementers, recognition and support by the superior, cooperation and support by concerned organizations and departments, understanding and participation of local citizens, favorable media and promotion of innovators. Under the context of existing system, the innovators' function and the recognition and support by the superior, especially by the central level, are most important.