The evolution and current state of the national emergency management system in the People's Republic of China

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Abstract

This research examines the evolution and current state of the national emergency management system in the People's Republic of China. It focuses on regulatory frameworks, the institutional structure, and key reforms in emergency management in China, focusing on the 21st century. The author examines in detail aspects of the topic, including the historical stages of the emergency management system's development, an analysis of regulatory documents, and the institutional architecture of the bodies responsible for emergency prevention and response. Particular attention is given to a comprehensive analysis of the large-scale reform of 2018, which resulted in the establishment of the Ministry of Emergency Management of the People's Republic of China, as well as to identifying the unique national characteristics of the Chinese model, which combines elements of international experience and domestic developments. The research utilizes a combination of methods, including institutional and historical analysis, document analysis, and comparative analysis to compare the Chinese emergency management system with its international counterparts. The research's novelty lies in its comprehensive conceptualization of China's emergency management system as a dynamic model that has evolved from extreme dispersion of functions across agencies to centralization within a single ministry. The paper systematizes three key stages in the system's evolution and identifies four unique governance mechanisms characteristic of Chinese practice. The study's main conclusion is that the modern Chinese emergency management system, integrating the best features of Western (integrated management) and Russian (separate ministry) approaches, has demonstrated high effectiveness, as evidenced by its successful crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also demonstrated that, despite these achievements, the system continues to actively develop, focusing on digitalization and technological modernization of all processes to address new challenges.

About the authors

Esin Sun

Email: holmemeng@gmail.com

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