Navigating the streams of power: applying the multiple streams framework in China’s authoritarian regime

The application of the Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) to authoritarian contexts exposes a fundamental tension: its core assumptions of fluid participation and organized anarchy clash with the rigid hierarchies of centralized regimes. Through a systematic review of 191 articles published in Chinese journals from 2005 to 2022, we uncover key differences between MSF’s underlying assumptions and the realities of China’s centralized bureaucracy. The findings highlight the need for context-specific adaptations, such as recognizing the orchestrated problem stream, the prominence of internal consensus-building, and the dominant role of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). These modifications reflect China’s state-centric governance system, which contrasts with the MSF’s expectations of fluid participation and bottom-up policy entrepreneurship. Our analysis reveals the challenges and opportunities of applying theoretical frameworks across different political systems, emphasizing the importance of critically examining assumptions and developing context-sensitive suppositions. Furthermore, we identify potential avenues for refining the MSF based on insights from China’s policymaking dynamics, such as the impact of leadership signaling and policy entanglements in state-centric systems. This study contributes to the advancement of policy theories by demonstrating the value of cross-contextual applications and adaptations, while also shedding light on the distinctive features of policymaking in China’s authoritarian regime.