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How Do Central Control Mechanisms Impact Local Water Governance in China? The Case of Yunnan Province

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2018

Sabrina Habich-Sobiegalla Open the ORCID record for Sabrina Habich-Sobiegalla [Opens in a new window]
Sabrina Habich-Sobiegalla*
Affiliation:
Institute of Chinese Studies at Freie Universität Berlin. Email: Sabrina.Habich-Sobiegalla@fu-berlin.de.
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Abstract

Despite being known as “Asia's water tower,” Yunnan frequently experiences severe droughts which put pressure on local communities and state actors alike. This article examines the institutional arrangements that guide water governance strategies employed by local cadres in Yunnan province, showing how central control mechanisms in the Chinese administrative system undermine effective water governance at the local level. Findings obtained from field research in two counties in Yunnan with different levels of economic development and water resource access show that current institutional arrangements – including those regulating local cadre performance and the procedures to apply for project funding from higher-level governments – hinder the efficient use of infrastructure investment. Instead, provincial and prefectural water bureau officials use their authority to channel funding to those regions with an already positive track record of project applications.

摘要

虽然被认为是 “亚洲的水塔”，但云南经常面临严重干旱，这给当地社区以及国家行为者带来了压力。本文探讨了指导云南省当地干部使用水治理策略的制度安排，显示了中国行政体制中中央控制机制如何阻碍了水治理在地方一级的有效实施。在云南省两个经济发展水平程度和水资源获取情况不同的县进行的实地调查结果显示，现行的制度安排—包括规范地方干部绩效以及向高一级政府申请项目资金的程序—阻碍了基建投资的有效利用。相反，省级以下 的水利局官员利用其权利向已经拥有良好项目申请记录的地区拨款。

Keywords

central–local relationspolicy implementationproject mechanismwater governanceYunnan province中央地方关系政策执行项目制水资源管理云南省
Type
Research Article
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 234 , June 2018 , pp. 444 - 462
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Copyright
Copyright © SOAS University of London 2018 

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