信访的“容量”分析——理解中国信访治理及其限度的一种思路

“Capacity”Analysis of Maltreated People's Complaints via Letters or Visits:Towards Understanding the Handling of People's Complaints and Its Limits

本文从信访制度的"容量"视角分析了中国信访运行的逼仄势态。从理想状态来看,信访制度仍有一定的接纳空间和存量余地,可以应对较大规模的信访洪流;但从现实运作来看,信访制度已经"爆棚",其化解信访问题的能力已不可持续。信访难案(长期未决案)的淤积使信访洪流形成一条"地上悬河",处于高位、高危的运行区间。而自上而下的"维稳"压力又强化了基层的"筑坝"定势,使信访怠于疏浚,"河床"不断抬高。当前应充分利用制度调整的"窗口期",建立多级信访拦截和过滤设置,形成以削减信访存量为核心的"吞吐"机制,以减轻信访制度的承载压力。应松动信访治理的属地责任,强化分类与专业化治理,特别是全国统筹的力度。这是信访正常运转及改革的前提。

In this article,the author looks into the'capacity'issue of China's complaint-lodging(xinfang)system. Optimally evaluated,the current system still has room for greater torrents of complaint input. In reality,however,the current system is sinking with overweight,and handling capacity is inadequate. Difficult or long overdue cases have been piling up. Local authorities,under the pressure of keeping their respective regions stable,refrain from taking the bull by the horns,hence the constant high volume of unattended letters and visits.This author suggests that,in the current window of institutional changeover,a multi-level intercepting and filtering mechanism should be established to reduce the towering stack of cases,and incoming cases should be sorted out and categorized according to kind rather than locality. Nationwide coordinating power should be enhanced as case categorization and handling are turning professional.