L'Ancien Régime Legacy of the Chinese Governance: Grand Union and the Common Good

Abstract Governance is essentially a dynamic mechanism to promote collective action for the common good. The Chinese concept of public/common ( gōnggòng ) and its political philosophy Grand Union governance provide an alternative perspective understanding such dynamics from unit family through institutions state-embedded society. Three critical arguments with interconnected elements are analysed: as mechanism; review historical, philosophical legacy governance; proposal framework . It concludes that ‘Chinese characteristics’, diverse adaptations, gradual flexibility, experimental pragmatism, polycentric balance strong central state all deeply rooted in pre-revolutionary ancien régime In order understand these seemingly different values, we need revisit their original functionality governing