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This article provides a greater understanding of the service-oriented government (SOG) reforms that China carried out at the central level in 2008, 2013, and 2018. These reforms involved two common post-NPM structural measures – namely, super-ministries and cross-ministerial networks or leading groups. Using a mythical, an instrumental, and a cultural perspective, this article examines how SOG reforms were carried out and enquires into the relevance of “Chinese characteristics.” Our analysis shows that China’s SOG reforms represent quite a complex and hybrid pattern with a dual orientation of service value and coordination action. The CPC’s leadership of government reform and major work in all areas are fundamental characteristics of China’s socialist administrative system.
Tian et al. (Tue,) studied this question.