對沖的「政治」：信訪制度如何吸納民眾參與

Abstract

由於秉持精英化的設計初衷並隱含了政治控制的目的，中國現行政治體制無法充分吸納不同階層民眾的政治表達⸺尤其是出於對政治不穩的忌憚，集會、遊行、示威等政治權利的行使受到嚴格管控。作為最貼近弱勢群體的一項「草根」式制度，信訪成為底層民眾非常規化的發聲裝置與表達管道，使民眾舉凡求助、哀告、抱怨、訴苦、抗議等願望得以表達，在事實上發揮了政治參與的作用，甚至那些為官方所不容的過激與越軌信訪行為，亦是政治參與的變通與扭曲表達形式。信訪參與一方面釋放了社會情緒，抑制了政治衝突及其對政治秩序的衝擊，另一方面又可能受民粹主義等思潮的裹挾，有抗爭化、風險化之虞，從而危及社會的安全運行。引導和擴大信訪政治參與，使信訪承接憲法賦予公民的政治權利，尤其是對社會不滿行為持容忍、克制的態度，將有力地抵御政治風險，防範社會抗議躍遷為社會騷亂，從而建構起官民良性的政治互動關係。

Due to the emphasis of elitism in case of political control, the current China political system can not fully absorb the political expression of different classes. For fear of political instability, the exercising of political rights such as assembly, procession and demonstration is being strictly controlled in China. As a grass-roots system closest to the weak, Xinfang system have become a special voice device and expression channel for the bottom from which the public desire such as asking for help, complaining and protesting could be expressed. In fact, this is a variant and twisted expression of political participation for even the excessive or deviant behaviors. They who are not tolerated by the authorities could also find a way by petition. While releasing social emotions and restraining political conflicts, Xinfang system may face the interference of populism and other ideological trends espically the protested and risky actions could endanger the safe operation of the society. Guiding and expanding the political participation through Xinfang so as to enable it undertake the political rights granted to citizens by the Constitution, especially holding an attitude of patience and restraint towards the social discontent, will effectively resist political risks, prevent social protests from turning into social riots, and thus construct a benign political interaction between the government and its people.