Classification, Evolution, and Construction: A Parallel Discourse Analysis of Agricultural Outsourcing Policy in China

Abstract Political decisions are increasingly based on local innovations. This article aims to reveal the role of argumentation in making a new idea stand out from the competition of a flood of policy ideas for national adoption. It traces the case of agricultural outsourcing in China and identifies the consecutive phases of classification, evolution, and construction. The finding is that a parallel argument structure was formed, which extends the traditional argument structure by constantly referring to an existing national policy, in this case land use rights transfer. The implication is that a more intentional use of argumentation is needed to impress policy-makers.