Governance of cultural festivals – insights from a transitional unitarian state

Purpose Studies on event governance remain limited, particularly in the context of Asian unitary states, where the ultimate role and power of the state sets a distinctive form that challenges conventional governance theory, largely developed from Western federal states. Design/methodology/approach The authors tested Hall's (2011) typology of governance using data gathered from qualitative in-depth interviews with 42 respondents, including government officials, media agencies, local officials, residents and nine informal talks with visitors. Findings The analysis reveals two modes of governance: (1) state-domination, which exists when the state actively sponsors national and communal landmark events and (2) state-corporatism, which occurs when partnerships are formed between the state and other private sector entities. Dialogues between the state and other entities are established through the local government agencies. Research limitations/implications The current research has some limitations due to the concentration of analysis on northern Vietnam. Originality/value Research on the production of cultural festivals in an Asian socialist state, influenced by Marxist sociology, challenges theories of governance based on a free market economy. Vietnam’s unique governing structure is characterized by a mechanism of state control over cultural forms, but allow dialogical alignment with other sectors within a hybrid system of a market economy with a socialist orientation.