Dynamic Adjustment for Disaster Governance in a Party‐State: A Longitudinal Analysis of Policy Punctuations and Reforms in China

ABSTRACT Historical patterns of policy change may vary depending on the characteristics of the policy domain and the nature of the subsystem that surrounds it. Against the backdrop of major changes since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, this paper investigates what and how the dynamics of policy change have shaped the pattern of disaster governance over the past seven decades. By tracing the stages of four fundamental policy shifts through the lens of the Punctuated Equilibrium Theory (PET), this study finds that the underlying drivers, mobilized by alterations of policy image, transfers of policy venues, the impetus of institutional friction, and the attention‐focusing event, facilitate policy shifts that alternate between incremental adjustment and punctuated evolution. As a vital component, China's disaster policy is integrated into the national security policy system that underscores the governance legitimacy of the state. In this respect, it differs from Western countries, where disaster management has its origin in civil defense. This study argues that the pursuit of capability and culturally based legitimacy of ruling provides historical foundations for China's disaster policy evolution. It concludes that the dynamic adjustment in policy punctuation can explain the sustained integration power for administrations and the challenge of reforms in Chinese disaster governance.