The global vernacular of governance and instruments: translating between the operating systems of China and the United States

Abstract

There is now a global English language vernacular of governance and its instruments. Students, scholars, practitioners and conferees alike in Beijing, Washington and numerous other locations use terms and phrases like “governance,” “policy instruments,” “NGOs” and “the rule of law” when talking about and analysing government and public affairs. But do these words have the same meaning in different heads? In response, this article examines some key vernacular terms related to governance and instruments, and compares their practical meaning in China and the US to consider whether the vernacular is robust enough to permit deep comparisons between differing “operating systems.” It contends that, at present, it is not, but that patient attention to differing systems may yield clues to translation and, ultimately, fruitful comparisons.

Keywords:

• governance
• comparative governance
• policy instruments
• translating between operating systems
• China
• United States

Notes

1. This article draws on my experience in China in 2004-2006 as a Fulbright scholar teaching at Shanghai Jiao Tong, Peking, Tsinghua, Nanjing and Fudan Universities, and since then living in China engaged with colleagues and students in teaching and related activities in law, environment, public policy and management, and international relations schools or centres. Of course, the views in this article are my own, and not necessarily those of any institutions.