政府的治道变革之所以逐步从硬法之治转向软法之治,是因为软法作为一种行为规则或治理手段,并不要求严格的定义、持久的程序和硬法立法的议会审查,而仅仅通过某种拘束力的作用就能够产生预定的规则目标,同时实现某种间接的法律效果。然而,软法模糊了法律约束力的界限,还可能脱离公众的控制,从而从总体上侵蚀国际法的根基。软法运行时,小国的利益还常常被忽视。如果作为一种过渡性工具,软法能够更好地促进试验性尝试、共同协作和政策柔性,帮助我们检验各种政策,加快决议的达成,但是它永远不能为现代社会提供一个稳定基础。软法既不与法治相契和,也不为宪政秩序奠定基础。我们要么将软法硬法化,要么摒弃它。 The reason why the government’s governance changes gradually from the rule of hard law to rule of soft law is that soft law, as a kind of rules of conduct or governance, does not require strict definition, long-term procedure and parliamentary review of hard laws A predetermined regulatory goal can be produced merely by some sort of binding force, with some indirect legal effect. However, the soft law blurs the legally binding limits and may also be out of the control of the public, thereby eroding the foundations of international law as a whole. Soft law, the interests of small countries are often overlooked. If as a transitional tool, soft law can better promote tentative attempts, cooperation and policy flexibility, help us test various policies and speed up the resolution, it will never provide a stable foundation for modern society. The soft law does not accord with the rule of law nor does it lay the foundation for constitutional order. We either soften or deny it.