How do policy transfer mechanisms influence policy outcomes in the context of authoritarianism in Vietnam?

Abstract

The literature on policy transfer shows that it may result in simultaneous policy convergence and policy divergence. However, little is known about how such results happen when transferring from multiple and possibly contrasting sources. This study finds that civil service reforms in Vietnam’s merit-based policies are influenced by both western and Asian models of meritocracy. This makes them both closer to universal ‘best practices’ and at the same time sharpens the distinctiveness of Vietnam’s policy. The calculations of political actors in combination with the context of a one-party authoritarian state have led to policy transfer through mechanisms of translation and assemblage which brings about a hybrid of convergence and divergence. This study enhances understanding of policy transfer in the context of Asian authoritarianism. In finding hybridity in transfer outcomes in this national context, the article shows the uniqueness of resultant policy change and develops an analytical framework for the influence of policy transfer on policy outcomes.

Culture and Policy Transfer: From Insight to Impact

“…In other words, culture alone cannot determine policy transfer. Research about merit-based policy transfer in Vietnam shows the importance of many other factors, including historical, political, institutional, and socio-economic factors (Duong, 2022a). For example, Vietnam’s learning from China cannot be explained merely by cultural similarity; instead, similarities of communist one-party states and a nomenklatura system are significant.…”

“…Although meritocracy was practiced early in Vietnam with competitive examinations in the feudal time (Nguyen, 2018), this merit-based tradition was discontinued until it became a focus of Vietnam’s public administration reform initiated in the 1990s. The transformation of Vietnam’s civil service is largely thanks to the process of merit-based policy transfer, in which Vietnam has been adopting meritocratic ideas and practices in their recruitment, promotion, performance management policies (Benedikter, 2016; Duong, 2022a). Given Vietnam’s merit-based policy transfer is voluntary, it aims to realize economic reform and enhance the ruling regime’s legitimacy (Duong, 2022b).…”

“…Given Vietnam's merit-based policy transfer is voluntary, it aims to realize economic reform and enhance the ruling regime's legitimacy (Duong, 2022b). Accordingly, Vietnam has learned from both Western and Asian countries with a pragmatic "pick and choose" and "mix and match" strategy, but eventually their policy is more similar to Asian countries, particularly China, than Western countries (Duong, 2022a(Duong, , 2022c. As Vietnam possesses a diverse culture with the combination of Confucian, Western, and socialist values, it provides a good case for studying the relevance of culture in policy transfer.…”

Development assistance, donor–recipient dynamic, and domestic policy: a case study of two health interventions supported by World Bank–UK and Global Fund in China

“…They strategically engage with donors [ 22 , 28 , 34 ] and act as proactive gatekeepers, brokers, translators, and innovators [ 12 , 22 ], demonstrating variable levels of ownership in leveraging access to DAH resources [ 34 – 36 ]. Specifically, they emphasize contextual differences and selectively frame or reformulate externally transplanted policies [ 7 , 28 , 37 – 40 ]. Consequently, the local adaptation of foreign ideas, involving continuous socio-political interactions among domestic and external actors, is widely recognized as key for transnational policy diffusion [ 22 , 40 – 44 ].…”

“…Specifically, they emphasize contextual differences and selectively frame or reformulate externally transplanted policies [ 7 , 28 , 37 – 40 ]. Consequently, the local adaptation of foreign ideas, involving continuous socio-political interactions among domestic and external actors, is widely recognized as key for transnational policy diffusion [ 22 , 40 – 44 ].…”