Original
When the Mass Line Encounters the Ground: Public-Oriented Accountability and Frontline Coping in China
Abstract
While the consolidation of state control in China is well-documented, less attention has been given to the reinforcement of public-oriented accountability, which emphasizes citizen satisfaction with complaint resolution in government performance assessments. Drawing on statistical data and fieldwork interviews, this study finds that while public-oriented accountability can partially promote substantive government responsiveness by imposing institutional pressure on frontline officials, it also fosters a public perception of an omnipotent government and exacerbates the predicament of grassroots incapacity. This not only traps frontline bureaucrats in administrative burden caused by blame-avoidance strategies, but may also fuel frustration among mobilized citizens with heightened expectations. The findings reveal the institutional sources and constraints of government responsiveness and highlight the potential challenges of operationalizing the mass line to consolidate legitimacy.
中文
当群众路线遭遇基层：中国面向公众的问责与一线应对
摘要
尽管国家控制的强化在中国已有充分记载，但公众导向问责的强化——即在政府绩效评估中强调公民对投诉解决的满意度——受到的关注较少。本研究基于统计数据与田野访谈发现，公众导向问责虽能通过对一线官员施加制度压力部分促进实质性政府回应，但也助长了公众对全能政府的认知，并加剧了基层能力不足的困境。这不仅使一线官僚陷入由避责策略造成的行政负担，还可能加剧被动员起来的、期望值提高的公民的挫败感。这些发现揭示了政府回应的制度根源与约束，并凸显了将群众路线操作化以巩固合法性的潜在挑战。
关键词
群众路线、公众导向问责、基层应对、政府回应性、避责策略、基层能力、中国政府、合法性