Grass-roots Formalism And Its Governance Dilemma

The opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on strengthening the modernization of grass-roots governance system and governance capacity pointed out that grass-roots governance is the cornerstone of national governance and the basic project to realize the modernization of national governance system and governance capacity.Under the background of the modernization of national governance,the development of grassroots governance has also entered the modernization transition period.However,in the field research,it was found that the development of grassroots governance presented a group of contradictory phenomena.One side is more and more technical,refined,standardized modern grassroots governance system;On the one hand,grassroots governance is trapped in "Wen Mountain Meeting Sea",inspection,and other formalized work,and then suspended in grassroots society.System construction is more and more perfect,and grassroots management is more and more idling instead.This study takes an ordinary agricultural township in Hubei Province as the field research unit and the phenomenon of grass-roots formalism as the research object to explain the transformation process of grass-roots governance modernization and the deep reasons behind the empirical paradox.After the 18 th National Congress,the state further strengthened the intensity and breadth of resources to the countryside.In order to ensure the accuracy and safety of resource allocation,the State supports a series of rules,tasks and supervision while sending resources to the countryside.The result of "strengthening the country" going to the countryside is that the country is gradually transforming the grass-roots level.The transformed grass-roots units are mainly reflected in the "de localization" of grass-roots political power.First,the formation of professional bureaucrats and the fading out of local cadres;Second,strengthen policy implementation and weaken mass work;Third,strong institutional incentives and weak social incentives.Finally,the national "agent" side of the grass-roots role gradually overwhelms the local "family" side.While the "strong country" goes to the countryside and the grass-roots level is transformed,the grass-roots governance has also completed the transformation accordingly.The construction of grass-roots bureaucratic system has become more and more perfect.Grass-roots governance has gradually changed from following the traditional "local logic" to following the logic of bureaucratic system,realizing the transformation of governance standardization.At this time,there is a paradox in practice.The development of standardization of grass-roots governance in turn restricts the grass-roots governance itself.It is mainly reflected in three aspects:Institutional rigidity replacing situational flexibility,technicalization squeezing personification,compliance weakening and rationality.The transformation of grass-roots governance standardization has changed the field,capital and habits of grass-roots governance,and dispelled the practicality of grass-roots governance.After the duality of grass-roots roles and the practicality of grass-roots governance have been changed,the grass-roots governance has the consequences of the standardization of governance responsibilities and the simplification of governance capabilities.The grass-roots level has fallen into the strategic trap of "formal legalization".Therefore,the resources are not enough,and "formalism" comes together;The ability is not enough,and "formalism" comes together;At the same time,use "formalism" to deal with "bureaucracy".Finally,the governance affairs of grass-roots governance have become a process of interaction between the upper and lower levels of the government through formalistic procedures and materials,which has nothing to do with the grass-roots people.Grass roots governance is constantly internalized and suspended in grass-roots society.Based on the above understanding and analysis,this paper draws the following conclusions: first,the development of the modernization of national governance system and governance capacity promotes the transformation of grass-roots governance modernization;Secondly,grass-roots governance has the characteristics of dual roles and practicality,which is also the "Grass-roots" of grass-roots governance.In the process of national transformation of grass-roots and grass-roots governance,the "Grass-roots" of grass-roots governance has been gradually eliminated;Finally,this paper believes that while governing the development of modernization,the state should rediscover the grass-roots level,give the grass-roots level appropriate subjectivity,and find the "grass-roots nature" of grass-roots governance.