The Sinews of State Power : The Rise and Demise of the Cohesive Local State in Rural China

Based on original fieldwork, The Sinews of State Power seeks to understand continuous rural instability in China despite national reforms in the post-2000s. It offers a fresh perspective by revisiting the fundamental components of a capable government - a coherent and robust local leadership - and tracing its rise and demise since the Maoist era. Abstract: Based on original fieldwork, The Sinews of State Power seeks to understand continuous rural instability in China despite national reforms in the post-2000s. It offers a fresh perspective by revisiting the fundamental components of a capable government - a coherent and robust local leadership - and tracing its rise and demise since the Maoist era Content: Cover The Sinews of State Power Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Introduction. The Basics of Government: Cohesive and Robust Local States The Limits of State Adaptability and Local States Locating the Local State Elite Coherence and Its Conditions Elite Alliances, Collusion, and Institutional Corruption Conditions for Elite Cohesion and Incentives in Time Research Methodology, Sources, and Organization 1. Rural Government and Farmer Protest in Comparative Perspective Protests and Riots in the Maoist Era Reactive Farmer Protest Explaining Farmer Protest Protests and Petitions in the Reform EraReactive Farmer Protest Explaining Farmer Protest Protest Leaders after the Reform Era Rural Activists Village Cadres Conclusion 2. The Formation and Institutionalization of Intrastate Cohesion The Making of New Elites: The Origins of Power and Survival Rational Goals and the Origin of Power Rational Mechanisms to Remain in Power Structural Orientation and Personal Networks Active Coordination and External Threats Active Coordination External Threats Reforms in the 1980s and Remaining Memories: Survival and Material Benefits Restructured Administration and Continuous PersonnelPolitical Reforms and the Rising Importance of Patronage Institutionalization of Alliances in the 1990s: Local Interests and Personal Networks The Stabilization of Leading Cadres and Local Interests Interdependence and Networks within the Alliances Conclusion 3. The Changes and Continuity of Local State Cohesion Alliance of Survival during the Maoist Era Alliance of Benefits in the 1980s Forced Implementation of National Policies Rural Industrialization and Collective Deviation Distinctive Localism and Collective Deviation in the 1990sOrganizational Expansion Excessive and Arbitrary Extraction from Society Covering Up for Each Other Run-​on Debts Conclusion 4. Dismantling the Local State: The Isolated Village Cadres The Structural Origin of Isolated Villages Fiscal Reforms: Emergence of a County Leviathan Further Changes from Within Abandoned Villages Scapegoating of Village Cadres Diverging Interests among Elites and Their Reproduction Institutional Changes and Unexpected Scapegoats Case Studies: Sichuan versus Jiangsu County-​Township Fiscal ArrangementsVillage Affairs Conclusion 5. Implications: Declining Coercive and Extractive Capacities of the State Declining Coercive Capacity in Maintaining Order Village Cadres Respond Towns and Counties: The Cat-​and-​Mouse Game Declining Extractive Capacities and Tax Games At the County Level: Individual Agendas and Economic Policies At the Township Level: The Illegal Tax Trade and the Accounting Game Case Studies: Sichuan versus Jiangsu Discontented Village Cadres and Their Responses State-​Business Relations and Taxation Conclusion Conclusion The Sinews Of State Power Seeks To Explain Why Rural China Has Been So Unstable Since 2000, Despite Numerous National Reforms. Using Original Fieldwork, It Traces The Rise And Demise Of Cohesive Local States In Rural China Since The Maoist Era. It Shows That, The County, Township, And Village Levels Of Government, When In Alliance, Have Facilitated Economic Growth And Caused Social Grievances. However, National Reforms Redressing Local Deviation, Together With Individual Responses From Each Level Of Administration, Have Dismantled Elite Alliances, And Consequentially Undermined The Extractive, Coercive, And Responsive Capacity Of The State. This Book Forms Dialogue With Two Fields Of Inquiry In China Studies And Comparative Politics. First, Researches On Farmer Protest Often Either Focus On Farmers' Grievances, Organizations, And Strategies, Or Examine Responses From The State As A Uniform Entity. This Book, Instead, Highlights The Anthropology Of The State By Looking Into Elite Cohesion Across Administrative Levels That Determines The Exercise Of State Capacity. Second, Studies Of Regime Stability Or Endurance Have Stressed Holistic Factors, Such As Institutional Adaptability, Political Culture, Or Epidemic Corruption. The Sinews Of State Power Instead Revisits The Fundamental Components Of A Capable Government - A Coherent And Robust Local Leadership That Enables The Function Of A State.-- Based On Original Fieldwork, The Sinews Of State Power Seeks To Understand Continuous Rural Instability In China Despite National Reforms In The Post-2000s. It Offers A Fresh Perspective By Revisiting The Fundamental Components Of A Capable Government -a Coherent And Robust Local Leadership, And Tracing Its Rise And Demise Since The Maoist Era-- Machine Generated Contents Note: -- Table Of Contents -- Introduction -- The Basics Of Government: Cohesive And Robust Local States -- Chapter I -- Rural Government And Farmer Protest In Comparative Perspective -- Chapter Ii -- The Formation And Institutionalization Of Intra-state Cohesion -- Chapter Iii -- The Changes And Continuity Of Local State Cohesion -- Chapter Iv -- Dismantling The Local State: The Isolated Village Cadres -- Chapter V -- Implications: Declining Coercive And Extractive Capacities Of The State -- Conclusion. Juan Wang. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The Sinews of State Power seeks to explain why rural China has been so unstable since 2000, despite numerous national reforms. Using original fieldwork, it traces the rise and demise of cohesive local states in rural China since the Maoist era. It shows that, the county, township, and village levels of government, when in alliance, have facilitated economic growth and caused social grievances. However, national reforms redressing local deviation, together with individual responses from each level of administration, have dismantled elite alliances, and consequentially undermined the extractive, coercive, and responsive capacity of the state. This book forms dialogue with two fields of inquiry in China studies and comparative politics. First, researches on farmer protest often either focus on farmers' grievances, organizations, and strategies, or examine responses from the state as a uniform entity. This book, instead, highlights the anthropology of the state by looking into elite cohesion across administrative levels that determines the exercise of state capacity. Second, studies of regime stability or endurance have stressed holistic factors, such as institutional adaptability, political culture, or epidemic corruption. The Sinews of State Power instead revisits the fundamental components of a capable government - a coherent and robust local leadership that enables the function of a state."-- Provided by publisher "Based on original fieldwork, The Sinews of State Power seeks to understand continuous rural instability in China despite national reforms in the post-2000s. It offers a fresh perspective by revisiting the fundamental components of a capable government -a coherent and robust local leadership, and tracing its rise and demise since the Maoist era"-- Provided by publisher