Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.1, 2016

 

An Assessment of Governmental Performance in the Course of Construction of Governments of Rule of Law in China

(Abstract)

 

Zheng Fanghui and Shang Huping

 

The construction of governments of rule of law is the core of all-round rule of law, and a must road to realize the great renewal of the Chinese nation and the Chinese Dream. Over three decades since the reform and opening to the outside world in 1978, the evolving course of construction of rule of law and organizational appraisements in China has experienced several phases, showing up various characteristics. This course has effectively boosted the construction of governments of rule of law, but in essence it is still objective evaluation. Many existing problems, including unclear goal orientation and functional orientation, defective technical systems, deficient impetus mechanism, and even the predicament in reality such as the lack of coordination, repeated appraisements and disorientation, are all caused by the factors of paradox in appraisement theory, single appraisement subject, sluggish institutional construction, and the lack of top-down design. On the basis of double coupling of value rationality and instrumental rationality, to boost the construction of governments of rule of law by means of the assessment of governmental performance not only indicates the spirit of rule of law and the value rationality of governmental performance, but also strengthens the instrumental rationality of appraisement as organizational management, helpful in improving the legitimacy of governance. In the future, one should innovate in the appraisement theory, enlarge the participation of the public, introduce multiple estimating subjects, improve technical systems, intensify institutional construction, and develop a performance culture. The change from objective evaluation to the appraisement of performance of governments of rule of law is conducive for the emergence of a new discipline, the studies of appraisements of performance of governments of rule of law, and thus further pushes forwards the multi-disciplinary integration and innovation of public management theory in China.