Policy Instrument Mix and Governance Mechanisms: A Multi-level Governance Analysis of the Innovative Development of Chuxiong (China) Yi Embroidery การผสมผสานเครื่องมือเชิงนโยบายและกลไกการกำกับดูแล : การวิเคราะห์การกำกับดูแลหลายระดับต่อการพัฒนานวัตกรรมผ้าปักชนชาติอี๋ เมืองฉู่สยง ประเทศจีน

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Yong Zhang
Kanokporn Numtong Numtong
Warisa Asavaratana

Abstract

This study investigates the policy design of Yi Embroidery development in Chuxiong, China, addressing a critical gap in understanding how intangible cultural heritage (ICH) innovation is institutionalized within multi-level governance systems. Grounded in policy instrument theory and a multi-tier governance perspective, the research employs deductive content analysis of 72 policy documents spanning national, provincial, prefectural, and county levels (2015–2024). Findings reveal three interconnected governance mechanisms—standardization, institutional embedding, and market activation—that form a "state–organization–market" continuum. National policies prioritize standardization through regulatory instruments (e.g., certification frameworks), while county-level initiatives drive market activation via e-commerce subsidies and artisan cooperatives. This hierarchical configuration demonstrates how policy instruments are structurally distributed across governance tiers to steer ICH innovation. By treating policy texts as institutional artifacts, the study decodes the interplay between technical language, organizational structures, and economic incentives in reshaping cultural practices. The analysis offers a structured framework for cultural policy design in ethnic regions and underscores the need to validate the mechanisms’ generalizability through cross-contextual empirical studies.

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