Evolutionary Governance in China: State–Society Relations under Authoritarianism (Harvard Contemporary China Series)

The People’s Republic of China has experienced numerous challenges and undergone tremendous structural changes over the past four decades. The party-state now faces a fundamental tension in its pursuit of social stability and regime durability. Repressive state strategies enable the Chinese Communist Party to maintain its monopoly on political power, yet the quality of governance and regime legitimacy are enhanced when the state adopts more inclusive modes of engagement with society. Based on a dynamic typology of state–society relations, this volume adopts an evolutionary framework to examine how the Chinese state relates with non-state actors across several fields of governance. Drawing on original fieldwork, the authors identify areas in which state–society interactions have shifted over time, ranging from more constructive engagement to protracted conflict. This evolutionary approach provides nuanced insight into the circumstances wherein the party-state exerts its coercive power versus engaging in more flexible responses or policy adaptations. Evolutionary Governance in China: State–Society Relations under Authoritarianism Copyright Dedication Contents Tables and Figures Acknowledgments List of Contributors List of Abbreviations PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. Evolutionary Governance in China: State–Society Interactions under Authoritarianism 2. Measuring State–Society Interactions in China’s Evolutionary Governance: Examining Extant Literature (2005–2015) PART II: COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE 3. Participation under Authoritarianism? Legislative Impact of Homeowner Activism in Beijing 4. Cellularized Civil Society: Public Participation in Community Governance 5. Contention and Inclusion of a Grassroots Community: Conflict over Rural Land Requisition in Nanhai, Guangdong PART III: ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH GOVERNANCE 6. AIDS Governance in China: Transitional Tripartite Interaction among State, Societal, and International Actors 7. Not a Zero-Sum Game: State–Society Interaction and Anti-Incinerator Campaigns in China PART IV: ECONOMIC AND LABOR GOVERNANCE 8. Decentralized and Differential Labor Policy Governance: The Implementation of China’s Labor Contract Law in the Pearl River Delta 9. Governing Foreign Capitalists in the Name of Workers: Policy Shifts Following Worker Suicides at Foxconn 10. Unintended Consequences of Enhanced Labor Legislation in Reform-Era China PART V: SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS GOVERNANCE 11. State–Society Interactions in the Campaign against Domestic Violence in China 12. Local Strategies of Engaging the State: The Cultural Legitimation and Heritagization of Mazu Belief 13. Governing an “Undesirable” Religion: Shifting Christian Church–State Interactions in Post-Mao China Epilogue: China’s (R)evolutionary Governance and the COVID-19 Crisis Harvard Contemporary China Serie The People's Republic Of China Has Experienced Numerous Challenges And Undergone Tremendous Structural Changes Over The Past Four Decades. The Party-state Faces A Fundamental Tension In Its Pursuit Of Social Stability And Regime Durability. Repressive State Strategies Enable The Chinese Communist Party To Maintain Its Monopoly On Political Power, Which Is Consistent With The Regime's Authoritarian Essence. Yet The Quality Of Governance And Regime Legitimacy Are Enhanced When The State Adopts More Inclusive Modes Of Engagement With Society. How Can The Assertion Of Political Power Be Reconciled With Responsiveness To Societal Demands? This Dilemma Lies At The Core Of Evolutionary Governance Under Authoritarianism In China. Based On A Dynamic Typology Of State-society Relations, This Volume Adopts An Evolutionary Framework To Examine How The Chinese State Relates With Non-state Actors Across Several Fields Of Governance: Community, Environment And Public Health, Economy And Labor, And Society And Religion. Drawing On Original Fieldwork, The Authors Identify Areas In Which State-society Interactions Have Shifted Over Time, Ranging From More Constructive Engagement To Protracted Conflict. This Evolutionary Approach Provides Nuanced Insight Into The Circumstances Wherein The Party-state Exerts Its Coercive Power Versus Engaging In More Flexible Responses Or Policy Adaptations. ""Adopts an evolutionary framework to examine how the Chinese state relates with non-state actors across several fields of governance: community, environment, public health, economics, labor, society, and religion; identifies areas where state-society interactions have shifted over time, ranging from constructive engagement to protracted conflict, thereby providing nuanced insight into the circumstances wherein the party-state exerts its coercive power versus engaging in more flexible responses"--Provided by publisher"-- Provided by publisher An evolutionary framework is used to examine how the Chinese state relates with non-state actors across several fields of governance. This approach provides insight into the circumstances wherein the party-state exerts its coercive power versus engaging in more flexible responses or policy adaptations.