Space-time Interposition:A Theory of Policy Pilots to Promote Institutional Creation——A Case Study of China's Policy Experimentation on Child Welfare and Protection of Minors
Policy pilot initiatives represent a distinctive aspect of China's governance and are pivotal for understanding its administrative mechanisms.Despite extensive discussions in existing studies regarding typologies,dynamic mechanisms,and policy diffusion,there remains an insufficient explanation as to why policy pilots are extensively adopted across various government levels and the underlying mechanisms that facilitate policy innovation through these pilots.Intersecting with China's administrative system and the"space-time compression"characteristic of modern state construction,policy pilots emerge as an effective method for pioneering policy innovation under resource constraints via the"space-time interposition"mechanism.This theoretical framework is bifurcated into two processes:"time for space"and"space for time".Collectively,policy pilots advance policy diffusion through the impact of localized pilots and curtail the decision-making process when focal events trigger policy windows,thereby facilitating policy imple-mentation over broader spatial domains.The"space for time"mechanism operates through pilots immedi-ately opening local policy windows and fostering policymaking within specific localities.Moreover,local policy innovation hastens the advent of policy windows on a wider scale through feedback mechanisms,thus achieving"space for time".The robustness of this framework is exemplified through a case study of policy pilots in child welfare and minor protection sectors.Initially,policy pilots in child welfare not only facili-tate policy diffusion but also streamline the introduction of comprehensive policies during focal events,em-bodying the"time for space"principle.Additionally,policy pilots inherently open opportunities'win-dows,ensuring local successes even in the face of overall pilot inefficacy.Although policy pilots,focal e-vents,administrative adjustments,and phased legislation have played roles in policy enactment,this theory offers a more encompassing explanation for the universal applicability of policy pilots within China's gov-ernance system.
policy pilotpolicy processchild welfareprotection of minors
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