Research on the evolution path of the relationship between fisheries associations and government in China

Abstract:

Along with economic and social transition, the relationship between fisheries associations and government evolves from Statism, State Corporatism, to Societal Corporatism. In the era of planned economy, fisheries associations were totally dominated by government as its organs to discharge their functions. They were administrations or public institutions established with narrow existence space, which were wholly incorporated into state system. Their relationship embodied Statism. During the transformational period, fisheries associations have obtained a certain degree of autonomy and more existence space to undertake part of government’s trial transferred functions of management and service delivery. Still, fisheries associations are in a restrained status, since government doesn’t totally let them go and exerts a certain degree of compulsory control over them by number and type constraint, leaders choosing and representative monopoly. Their relationship evolves to State Corporatism. In the new period of mature market economy system, fisheries associations will obtain relatively independent position and their functions of management and service delivery will expand and deepen further. Their relationship will not be mutual antagonism but mutual empowerment, though they are still controlled by government by noncompulsory ways, which reflects not Pluralism but Societal Corporatism image.