Ye, Xiaojing (2021) Understanding the international involvement of China’s subnational governments : case study of Zhejiang and Yunnan province. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This thesis examines the international involvement of China’s subnational governments from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. The literature review reflected the limitations of existing approaches, including paradiplomacy, multi-layered diplomacy and multi-level governance, in understanding the cases in the context of China. The thesis then develops a theoretical framework concentrating on the transformation that has originated at the central level, which induced changing central-subnational interactions in China and thus affected the international involvements of SNGs. Accordingly, the research examines three big changes at the central level: central diplomatic relations and foreign policy concerns; policies related to reform and opening up; and the changing concept of security. It suggests that these factors caused or affected the international involvements at subnational level. It argues that SNGs in China have also played a proactive role, which has further complicated the central-subnational interaction in terms of SNGs’ international involvements. Based on the theoretical framework, this research employs two case studies: Zhejiang and Yunnan provinces. A comparative case study of the two provinces illustrates that these factors are differently reflected at subnational level, and has led to different patterns of international involvements by these two provinces.

This research into the international involvements of China’s SNGs has made both theoretical and empirical contributions to existing literature. Firstly, it has employed a theoretical framework to make a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the underpinning reasons for the international involvements of Chinese SNGs. Secondly, it has conducted a comparative case analysis to examine the diversity that exists in SNGs’ international involvements. Thirdly, by studying the international involvements of China’s SNGs, the research has made a modest contribution to the overall understanding of China’s politics, which it is argued should go beyond a simple concentration on the central government alone and pay attention to other domestic actors. Finally, this research on China’s SNGs also enriches the general understanding of the international activities of SNGs. Previous approaches to SNGs mainly originated from federal states or democratic decentralized states and the present research on China offers a different perspective to understand the phenomena.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	J Political Science > JQ Political institutions (Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Area, etc.) J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Subnational governments -- China, Local government -- China, China -- Politics and government, China -- Government policy
Official Date:	2021
Dates:	Date Event 2021 UNSPECIFIED
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Politics and International Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Breslin, Shaun ; Siles-Brügge, Gabriel
Sponsors:	University of Warwick ; China Scholarship Council
Format of File:	pdf
Extent:	xiv, 353 leaves : illustration, maps
Language:	eng

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