On the Difficulty in the Development of Modern University System in China and the Counter Measures——Theoretical Perspectives of New-institutionalism

The development of modern university system in China has been difficult to make any essential progress,according to the analyses based on the three schools of thoughts of new-institutionalism,including rational-choice institutionalism, sociological institutionalism and historical institutionalism, the difficulties in the development of modern university system in China are mainly due to the absence of the driver of institution innovation,the restriction of traditional culture and the influence of institution path dependence. This paper therefore proposes that the modern university system development in China should move forward from fostering effective reform of a limited government,mobilize all stakeholders for their active participation;to carry out cultural innovation and cultivate a modern university system environment;and to introduce a historical veto point to break the path dependence.