REFORM AND TRANSITION IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION THEORY AND PRACTICE IN GREATER CHINA

Public administration has undergone a fundamental change in China since Deng Xiaoping initiated a process of openness and reform in the late 1970s. While reform is widespread in Greater China (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau), only limited scholarship has been conducted to theorize these changes and empirically document them. This is somewhat surprising given the growing international prominence of China as a major powerhouse in the world economy and a political leader. This symposium seeks to contribute towards building knowledge and evidence on the changing nature of public administration in Greater China. In this article, key themes unique to Greater China are drawn out, the emergent status of public administration scholarship in China is discussed, and the key ingredients of a research agenda are presented.