Since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the establishment of the Ministry of Social Work and the advancement of the ‘Party-led grassroots governance’ mechanism have marked a structural transformation in China’s social governance system. The relationship between government and social organisations has evolved from one of administrative delegation to an interactive structure that combines political leadership with social collaboration. Based on field research into the distribution of public assistance resources in rural China, this paper reveals an early grassroots manifestation of this collaborative model prior to the formal establishment of the national social work system. The findings show that under conditions of uneven governance capacity, government and social organisations achieved effective cooperation through the ‘U + B’ model. In this model, social organisations act as the main responsible actors, while the government (and Party-state organisations) serves as a facilitator and supporter—mobilising authority, resources, and expertise to strengthen social organisations’ capacity for governance. Through a constructively embedded partnership, the two form an organic and unified governance unit that not only resolves local challenges in resource allocation but also offers valuable insights into the evolving Party–society relationship and the collaborative governance framework of the new era.

In recent years, both policy circles and Chinese-language scholarship have promoted the idea of building an ‘autonomous knowledge system’ for Chinese public administration (公共管理自主知识体系). This article examines how notions of ‘modernity,’ ‘post-modernity,’ and ‘ultra post-modernity’ can guide the development of such a knowledge system. It argues that Western-centred paradigms of modernity—based on rationality, science, and institutionalism—have contributed to administrative modernisation but are not well adapted to tackle challenges posed by post-industrial and digital societies. ‘Post-modernity,’ meanwhile, with its emphasis on decentralisation, pluralism, and imagination, challenges the rationalist limits of modernity but tends towards fragmentation and relativism. The article argues that ‘ultra post-modernity,’ which integrates the strengths of both paradigms while adapting to the needs of digital society, may offer useful insights for developing a Chinese public administration knowledge system.

abstract Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the development of science and technology evaluation (hereinafter ‘S&T evaluation’) has followed a similar trajectory to the development of science and technology (S&T) more generally. Evaluation presents an example of how management and decision-making in the S&T field has been gradually optimized. Compared to other sectors, research on the development of S&T evaluation is sparse, especially in the English language literature. Authored by Chinese S&T evaluation practitioners, this article examines the trajectory of contemporary S&T evaluation in the PRC, attempting to perceive and explain the governance logic behind it and highlighting regulatory and legislative developments. The article also offers thoughts about potential future developments in this field from the perspective of the goal of pursuing ‘Chinese modernization’.

Currently, China has not established a unified personal bankruptcy system. Relevant pilot projects have merely been conducted in some regions or cities within the country, and certain experiences have been obtained. In the context where the revision of the bankruptcy legal system has been incorporated into the work plan of the national legislative organ, this paper endeavors to summarize the practical experience related to the personal bankruptcy system in China, analyze current needs for such a system, and compare international legislative practices to provide recommendations for developing China’s personal bankruptcy system.