Policy entrepreneurship in Chinese poverty alleviation: a case study of the Britevilla initiative

Abstract                         

This study applies the Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) to analyze the role of Organization C, a unique policy entrepreneur within China's fragmented and experimental governance structure. By examining Organization C's strategies in navigating central and local policymaking, the research uncovers key factors that influence successful policy implementation, such as problem importance, alignment with central directives, and local administrative capacity. Our study shows that effective policy change in China hinges on the strong alignment of these factors, bolstered by robust political support. Additionally, it highlights the increasing influence of top leaders’ ideologies since 2013 and the critical role of natural focusing events on opening policy windows. The findings suggest that government-organized NGOs (GONGOs) like Organization C play a distinctive role in shaping policy outcomes in China’s authoritarian polity. While our case study provides insights into the policymaking process in an authoritarian context, its focus on a single case places inherent limitations on generalization. We suggest that future research should explore the role of GONGOs in other regimes, the impact of information control on the policy process, and the integration of policy implementation theories with the MSF to deepen our understanding of policymaking in complex environments.

Keywords

Multiple Streams Framework; policy entrepreneurship; policy implementation; poverty alleviation; community-driven development.

Click here to access this working paper