Postgraduate Research Fellow Scholarship (awarded as the principal (co-)supervisor, full scholarship)

Examining the Development Paths of the River Chief System Locally Adapted across China from the Perspectives of Policy Transfer, 2007-2027

400,000

The River Chief System (RCS) involved an experimental pattern of policy learning, designed for effective water governance in China; evolving from a local provisional policy to a nationwide strategy since its launch in 2007. Its evolutions have presented remarkable adaptions in local policy paths across China. This study explores the RCS within a Policy Transfer framework, tracing its local development paths across provinces. Using the degree of policy transfer as an indicator of policy localization, we apply thematic analysis in a range of policy models and qualitative methods to investigate how relevant factors trigger different degrees and transformations of the RCS during its transfer process. Our results help interpret those distinctive impacts of transfer paths and outcomes. Our findings help inform evidence-based policy making, foster institutional learning more inclusively, and advance understanding of complex policy transfer dynamics for global (and) environmental governance.