China needs better think tanks to provide quality advice
Governments generally don't like surprises. Hence the maxim, not entirely in jest, not to order an inquiry without knowing the outcome. But good governments can turn fearless advice to advantage in framing and planning policy.
Governments generally don't like surprises. Hence the maxim, not entirely in jest, not to order an inquiry without knowing the outcome. But good governments can turn fearless advice to advantage in framing and planning policy. The contradiction echoes in President Xi Jinping's call for a new type of Chinese think tank that can compete with American ones in spreading influence abroad and helping refine and inform policymaking at home. At the same time, however, the leadership is demanding greater political correctness from researchers.
Indeed, Xi told a meeting of the Communist Party's leading group on overall reform that the new think tanks should be led by the party and adhere to its ideology. This is not easily reconciled with academic freedom and independent thinking essential to quality advice. As a result, say some experts, even ideas that promise to be effective in addressing national problems might be shelved if they conflict with ideology.
From past emperors to today's leaders, rulers have needed honest and frank advice to make informed decisions. Unfortunately, the way China's think tanks are organised they function more like government departments. Researchers risk the disapproval of officials and damage to career prospects by pushing ideas that conflict with current policy. Instead they produce work that reflects the likes and dislikes of leaders, who in turn are led into a false sense of complacency.
If China is to successfully run the world's second-largest economy and play a more important global role, government needs to be better informed. Leaders need useful, independent advice rather than the output of government-owned think tanks. That said, Xi's vision of institutions that contribute to "modernised governance" is taken to refer to best practice, including transparency, accountability, effective policy and efficient implementation. This is certainly needed to tackle the challenges of an increasingly complex environment for economic, social and political development.
