Policy ethnography and conservative transition from plan to market The construction of policy rationalities and the 'intellectual limitations of leading comrades'

摘要

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to illuminate change processes in Vietnam, China, and the USSR.rnDesign/methodology/approach - "Policy ethnography" may be used to examine the emergence ofrnpolicy rationalities that may or may not be locally feasible. Through the use of a conceptual heuristicsrnto interpret practice, this paper contrasts approaches in the development of "conservative" transitionrnrationalities suited to the shift from plan to market whilst retaining a ruling Communist Party inrnpower. Comparison is made between Vietnam, where a successful "conservative" transition occurred,rnand a failed policy experiment in the Soviet Union. The discussion extends to China, where, as in therncase of Vietnam, a policy-oriented policy rationality of transition may be observed.rnFindings - Through the use of a conceptual heuristics, to interpret practice this paper, contrastsrnapproaches in the development of "conservative" transition rationalities suited to the shift from plan tornmarket whilst retaining a ruling Communist Party in power. Comparison is made between Vietnam,rnwhere a successful "conservative" transition occurred, and a failed policy experiment in thernSoviet Union. The discussion extends to China, where, as in the case of Vietnam, a policy-orientedrnpolicy rationality of transition may be observed.rnResearch limitations/implications - Further research into the development of conservativernpolicy rationalities in other context is advised.rnPractical implications - The paper concludes that attaining a successful heuristics amongst policyrnconsumers is likely a necessary condition of a managed conservative transition, and that thisrnheuristics does well to define system changes as a process, rather than a discrete step, in constructing arncognitive basis for policy rationality.rnOriginality/value - The paper consistently avoids realist arguments about policy, which wouldrnsuggest judgments as to whether policy is "correct" or "incorrect", and focuses upon the creation ofrnpolicy rationalities.