The Practical Significance of Non-Actionin Government Governance
【Abstract】For a long time, Confucianism has played a leading role in the thought ofgovernment governance. This paper attempts to interpret and analyze the practical role of Taoist non-action thought in the history and present of government governance from both domestic and international dimensions, mainly involves three aspects: the government function transformation, the International Political Economy New Order and the ecology problem.
【Key Words】Non-action;governance;New International Political and Economic Order;ecological problem
Ever since Dong Zhonghu“dethroned the hundred schools and respected Confucianism only”, Confucianism has been in the dominant position in all dynasties of our country, manifesting itselfin the government governance for strengthening the centralization, focusing on the strict management of all aspects of people’s lives. However, the Taoist political thought of “non-action”is also a powerful reference for governments in today’s world to change their mode of governance and improve their ability to govern.
First of all, what do we need to know aboutnon-action? As a category of Laozi’s political philosophy, “non-action” does not mean doing nothing, but meansto follow the natural nature of things and the basic requirements of the general development trend, and to assist, guideor transform them in an objective and impartial manner with the softcharacteristics and ways embodied in Tao, so as to make them develop in the direction that is beneficial to both the objective things and the practical subject. In a word, we should respect the law of the development of things themselves and guide them appropriately instead of intervening excessively.
The thought of “non-action” is conducive to promoting the transformation of government functions and adjusting the way of governing. China is in the transition period from planned economy to market economy, which requires the market to play a decisive role in resource allocation. However,althoughChina’s government administrative system has been reformed many times, it still lags behind the economic system reform. Once upon a time, this model brought many social and economic ills, such as endemic corruption, abuse of power for personal gain and so on. Then, what is the government management idea under the guidance of Taoist “non-action’? Tao Te Ching says, “If I ‘do nothing’, the people will self-nurture; if I am quiet, the people will naturally followthe right path; if Ileave people alone, the people will naturally be rich; if I have no desire, the people will naturally become simple.” I believe that the significant results achieved in recent years in the transformation of the government functions in China cannot be separated from the reference to the idea of “non-action”. The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) clearlyproposes to “transform government functions, deepen the simplification and decentralization of government, innovate supervision, enhance the credibility and execution of government, and build a service-oriented government that satisfies the people”. For example, the market negative list system clearly lists the industries, sectors and businesses in the People’s Republic of China where investment is prohibited or restricted. Compared with the past, this has greatly eased market accesswith certain regulation, allowingmore market players to enter and stimulating market economic vitalityunder certain supervision. The transformation from omnipotent government to limited government illustrates the practical significance of the thought of non-action at present.
The idea of non-action applies not just to socialist countries. The shift from Keynesianism tothesupplyschooland Monetarism in capitalist countries is also, in a way, apractice of the idea non-action. After the Great Depression, Roosevelt led the country out of the economic crisis with his new deal. For a long time afterwards, most of his successors continued to pursue Keynesianism, arguing for government control over the economy, which was indeed a major cause of America’s economic prosperity. In the late 1970s, however, there was inflation. As a result, President Reagan implemented an economic recovery plan based on the principles of tax cuts, regulation cuts, spending cuts, and currency control. This program increased the economy of free enterprise in the free market, broke the stagnation of the American economy, and restored the growth capacity of the American economy. The success of Reagan’s economic policy confirms the significance of the idea of non-actionaround the world, and also proves the rationality of the quotation: “The best government is that which governs least.”
The idea of non-actionis conducive to the establishment of a new international political and economic order and the promotion of peaceful coexistence among nations. In recent years, China’s comprehensive national strength has been increasing, with its economy leaping to the second place in the world, and its figure on the international stage has become increasingly active. Ourgovernment has always adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace and a path of peaceful development. No matter what stage of development it reaches, it will never seek hegemony. This effectively retorts the “China Threat Theory”. If all governments, especially those of powerful countries in the world, make appropriate use of the concept of non-actionwhen formulating foreign policiesand taking diplomatic actions,hegemonic practices such as interfering in the internal affairs or other countries and manipulating their elections will be greatly reduced; trade protectionism and deliberate sanctions against weak countries may disappear.
The thought of non-action is helpful to solve the ecological problems in the world and to deal with the relationship between man and nature. When we talk about governance, we pay more attention to its economic policy and foreign policy, and less attention to its ecological policy. Nowadays, the global ecological environment is deteriorating day by day, the global warming, the sharp decline of biodiversity and other issues need to be solved by the international community, China’s ecological environment has been improved through efforts, but garbage classification, waste of resources and other issues remain serious. Taoists have always paid attention to respecting nature, and their thought of doing non-action is applied to ecology, that is, we should respect the laws of nature, and not just rely on man’s own selfish desires to greatly transform nature, but to use scientific methods to guide its development in favor of nature and human direction. For example, China’s practice of “damming and warping” the Yellow River, taking full account of the natural nature of the topography, hydrology and local economic situation, has resulted in such things as conserving water resources, rationally allocating water resources, and solving soil and water loss, increase economic efficiency and other good results.
To sum up, Taoism’s thought of non-action is not only meaningful to the government of China, but also can be an important reference to other governments in governing. Non-action is not doing nothing, but through “non-action” to achieve the “promising” goal, achieving an artistic balance in political practice, and enjoying the joy of “harmony”.