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Coordination Structures and Mechanisms for Crisis Management in China: Challenges of Complexity

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Abstract

When responding to crises, a joint approach is often used, which requires coordination among government agencies and other institutions. In this article we combine the vertical and horizontal dimensions to develop a theoretical framework to explain the patterns and performance of coordination. By drawing on structural-instrumental and institutional perspectives, we examine the coordination structures and mechanisms in China’s crisis management at the central and local levels. We outline the main structural characteristics of the Chinese system and the overall challenges it faces. We then discuss four crises that have happened in and around Beijing, using these to illustrate the crucial factors driving coordination successes and failures. Lastly, we discuss some comparative features and the theoretical and policy implications of our main results.

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Acknowledgements

An earlier version of this manuscript was presented at the Conference “From the management of crisis to the governance of risk: Time for a paradigm shift?”, Haikou, Hainan, China, January 9-11, 2017. The authors would like to thank Yana Lu, Yanwei Li, and other conference participants for helpful comments. We are grateful for financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (No.: 71774164).

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Correspondence to Liang Ma.

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Christensen, T., Ma, L. Coordination Structures and Mechanisms for Crisis Management in China: Challenges of Complexity. Public Organiz Rev 20, 19–36 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-018-0423-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-018-0423-9

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