Abstract:

In the process of policy generation and evolution, sustainably diffusing a policy innovation is a key issue. It is important to study the inducement mechanism, innovation motivation, diffusion process, etc., to fully understand China's policy process. This paper presents the “Integration of Three Governances”, a successful policy innovation and diffusion, from Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province as a case. This paper describes the technical pathway of the “Integration of Three Governances” innovation and its successful diffusion nationwide. Using a systematic analysis framework of the subject, object, and path of innovation diffusion, it analyzes the policy's mechanism of action. This paper also shows its success was due to political legitimacy; its political origin, legal basis, and functionality were in line with the Chinese context. It was also inseparable from the “technical” variables, such as policy entrepreneurs, policy attributes, and intergovernmental relations. First, the professional quality and innovation consciousness of policy entrepreneurs provided important power and guarantees. The high compatibility and low cost of the policy's attributes allowed its diffusion to increase in scale and scope. Finally, the strength of the upper-and lower level-governments and the frequency of horizontal communication played substantial roles in the policy's national promotion.

Key words: “the Integration of Three Governance”, policy innovation, policy diffusion