Despite continuing criticism of the Chinese authoritarian political system, the range of participants in the decision-making process has widened, with different social actors now playing an increasingly important role in the Chinese policymaking process. Accordingly, the role of think tanks in the policymaking process has generated great interest within and outside China. This book explores China's think tanks, and explains their behaviour and influence in the policy process.

Xufeng Zhu is Professor in the Zhou Enlai School of Government at Nankai University, China.

Part 1: Theoretical and Analytical Framework 1. Introduction 2. Think Tanks and China's Think Tanks 3. Influences of China's Think Tanks Part 2: Different Origins and Behavioral Patterns: Seven Cases 4. Government-Affiliated Semi-Official Think Tanks 5. Non-Governmental Operational Think Tanks with Government Sponsorship 6. Non-Governmental Think Tanks Part 3: Networks, Influences, and Social Consequences: A Nationwide Survey 7. Observations of Think Tank Influence and Networks 8. The Origin of Think Tank Networks 9. Influences and Strategies 10. Social Consequences: Does Think Tanks' Influence Matter? Part 4: Conclusion 11. Policy Market in China