Governance in China: The Role of Think Tanks in Defining Policy Agendas

This study aims to develop our understanding of China’s contemporary system of governance with a focus on the role of think tanks in policymaking. It examines the influence of think tanks in the development of China's five-year plans, Chinese legislation and the Belt and Road Initiative. By adapting the coding framework of the Comparative Agendas Project (CAP), a substantial body of policy-related content from the Chinese government and think tanks was measured. The findings suggest that while Chinese think tanks are generally aligned with government policy, they exert more influence during periods of political decentralisation or when issues become urgent. This suggests a fluctuating dynamic between state control and societal input, highlighting the complex balance between institutional power and autonomy.