CONCEPT OF GOVERNANCE IN PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: PERCEPTIONS AND EVOLUTION

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to present a literature review about the concept of ‘Governance’ within the Chinese context. When it comes to Chinese governance, most of the studies are centered in corporate governance. Despite it is a relevant topic, this is not part of this literature review scope of analysis. Instead, this paper focuses on Chinese contemporary political governance, both at internal and external levels, from 1978 until 2022. The research gap this literature review seeks to answer is if Chinese governance is reshaping the current global order or fitting into it. There is no academic consensus regarding this matter, neither from the field of Chinese studies, nor from political sciences. Mainly two different tendencies emerge from scientific community: (i) one advocating peaceful rise and China as a ‘status quo power’; and (ii) the other one advocating ‘China threat’ as a reality. Factors that evidence both of them are analyzed in this paper that reconfirm the ambiguity of China’s position towards Chinese governance and its position in global order.