Restructuring Governance in Contemporary Urban China: perspectives on state and society

Heritage governance in urban China operates as a dynamic, interactive process that derives legitimacy from multiple sources without systematic bias against any social group. This insight emerges from an empirical evaluation of the Longmen Grottoes' nomination and preservation, required for its UNESCO World Heritage status. The study examines four varied approaches to state-society relations, applying them to the case of Luoyang's local political system. It reveals that governance in this context is resourceful and adaptive, contrasting with traditional models that assume systematic bias or top-down control.

Wang, D. (2011). Restructuring Governance in Contemporary Urban China: perspectives on state and society. Journal of Contemporary China, 20(72), 723–733. https://doi.org/10.1080/10670564.2011.604491