Title: Regime transformation and environmental policy innovation in China

Authors: Miron Mushkat; Roda Mushkat

Addresses: Hong Kong Programme, Syracuse University, Jockey Club Environmental Building, 77 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong. ' Hopkins-Nanjing Centre, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, 1740 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC20036, USA; Hopkins-Nanjing Centre, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), c/o Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China

Abstract: Chinese economic performance during the reform era has been stellar in terms of several key economic yardsticks. During the early years of post-1978 restructuring this had comfortably overshadowed deterioration and halting progress on other fronts, the ecosystem being one of them. The latter|s vulnerability and neglect has attracted closer attention in recent years and strategic responses to the socio-physical strains that have emerged and proliferated have grown in scale and have gathered momentum. It has consequently been argued that a genuine paradigm shift has materialised and that the new framework for societal management is no longer heavily oriented towards wealth accumulation. A significant cognitive adjustment has doubtless taken place, but its extent is a matter of debate and persistent institutional frailties are not consistent with the notion of a far-reaching overhaul of the entire problem-management system.

Keywords: environmental degradation; GDPism; regime transformation; policy innovation; people-centred development; third revolution; China; environmental policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IER.2011.043343

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2011 Vol.12 No.4, pp.349 - 371

Published online: 23 Sep 2014 *

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