The cultural sector in China through the lens of cultural policies concepts

TL;DR

This paper explores how China's cultural sector has evolved over the past 40 years, shaped by political control and market forces.

Contribution

The paper provides a novel analysis of China's cultural policies by examining their dual nature under political and market influences.

Findings

Cultural policies in China are driven by central political decisions of the party-state.

There is tension between national policy guidelines and local implementation.

The cultural sector includes both state-controlled public services and a competitive market-based creative sector.

Abstract

The cultural policies of Mainland China have been subject to fascinating changes in the last forty years, influenced by politics and ideology on the one hand, and market forces on the other. The article provides a preliminary outline of the main traits of the system, analysed from the perspective of contemporary cultural policies theory and international practice.

The authors examine how the cultural sector of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is organized and financed, including its governance, funding, copyright, basic cultural providers and consumers. The methodological approach used adopts the analytical framework of the Compendium of Cultural Policies & Trends, and includes analyses of statistical data, primary and secondary sources.

Data and source information show that cultural policies of the PRC are a function of central-level political policy-making of the party-state. Cultural activity at all levels is subject to strong political control. At the same time, there is visible tension between central-level general policy guidelines and local level implementation, and between the mission of the state to ensure wide cultural participation, and the market economy incentivization of public cultural organizations.

The authors conclude that the sector exhibits a dual characteristics, with market-insulated public services on the one side, and the market economy Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS) on the other, where state-owned enterprises compete for services, customers, and profits with private entities. Faced with numerous challenges and new developments, the sector also witnesses dynamic changes of its legal environment.

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