
Grassroots Political Reform in Contemporary China
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
Grassroots Political Reform in Contemporary China
About this book
Observers often note the glaring contrast between China's stunning economic progress and stalled political reforms. Although sustained growth in GNP has not brought democratization at the national level, this does not mean that the Chinese political system has remained unchanged. At the grassroots level, a number of important reforms have been implemented in the last two decades.
This volume, written by scholars who have undertaken substantial fieldwork in China, explores a range of grassroots efforts--initiated by the state and society alike--intended to restrain arbitrary and corrupt official behavior and enhance the accountability of local authorities. Topics include village and township elections, fiscal reforms, legal aid, media supervision, informal associations, and popular protests. While the authors offer varying assessments of the larger significance of these developments, their case studies point to a more dynamic Chinese political system than is often acknowledged. When placed in historical context--as in the Introduction--we see that reforms in local governance are hardly a new feature of Chinese political statecraft and that the future of these experiments is anything but certain.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- List of Abbreviations
- 1. Introduction: Historical Reflections on Grassroots Political Reform in China
- 2. Village Elections, Transparency,and Anticorruption: Henan and Guangdong Provinces
- 3. The Implementation of Village Elections andTax-for-Fee Reform in Rural Northwest China
- 4. Fiscal Crisis in Chinaâs Townships:Causes and Consequences
- 5. Direct Township Elections
- 6. The Struggle for Village Public Goods Provision: Informal Institutions of Accountability in Rural China
- 7. Inadvertent Political Reform via Private Associations: Assessing Homeownersâ Groups in New Neighborhoods
- 8. Civil Resistance and Rule of Law in China:The Defense of Homeownersâ Rights
- 9. âHope for Protection and Hopeless Choicesâ:Labor Legal Aid in the PRC
- 10. Is Labor a Political Force in China?
- 11. Between Defiance and Obedience:Protest Opportunism in China
- 12. In Search of the Grassroots: Hydroelectric Politics in Northwest Yunnan
- 13. Public Opinion Supervision: Possibilities and Limits of the Media in Constraining Local Officials
- Notes
- Contributors