Abstract: From the perspective of governance，the article summarizes foreign literature on soft law，giving an overall sketch of the recent development of soft law，including its concept，characteristics，category，criticism and reply，the value of soft law and the relationship between it and hard law．At the end，the authors brief the eye—broadening significance of soft law studies，and how public law，in particular administrative law，can react to the development of soft law and collaborative governance．

Key words: soft law, hard law, collaborative governance, administrative law

摘要： 本文从治理的角度，综述了国外有关软法方面的研究资料，介绍了软法的概念、特征、软法的分类、对软法的批评和回应、软法的价值、软法和硬法的关系等内容。最后，简要指出了软法研究对于拓宽法学研究视野的意义，以及公法特别是行政法如何回应软法以及合作治理的发展。

关键词: 软法硬法 , 合作治理 , 行政法