Local People's Congresses in China
Development and Transition

Cho's in-depth research reveals how and why Chinese local legislatures have become important political forces in local politics.

Young Nam Cho (Author)

9780521182492, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 25 November 2010

206 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.2 cm, 0.31 kg

Review of the hardback: 'For those who think China is not undergoing political reform, Young Nam Cho's book will come as a revelation. Richly detailed and based on years of careful research, Cho's study shows the rising influence of local legislatures and their relations with the Communist Party and local governments. It should help reshape our understanding of local politics in China.' Bruce Dickson George Washington University

Cho addresses two key questions in this comprehensive study of local people's congresses at both provincial and county levels. First, what kinds of roles did Chinese local legislatures actually perform in local politics, and to what degree? Second, how have Chinese local legislatures become main political forces, and what kinds of development strategies have they employed, along with the Chinese Communist Party and governments? Dismissing the outdated conclusion that Chinese local legislatures are nothing but 'rubber stamps', Cho's in-depth research in Shanghai, Guangdong, and Tianjin areas proves that they have strengthened lawmaking and supervisory roles and thereby become important political forces in local politics. Moreover, these legislatures have employed very sophisticated development strategies targeting different objectives: getting the support of the party, cooperating with governments, and aggressively engaging in courts.

1. Introduction: local legislatures in Chinese politics
2. The politics of lawmaking with Chinese characteristics
3. Supervising governments and development strategies
4. Supervising courts and the development of new state organs
5. Role fulfillment of deputies to local legislatures
6. Symbiosis between local legislatures and social organizations
7. The development of local legislatures and political leadership
8. Conclusion: the development of local legislatures and political development in China.

Subject Areas: Regional government [JPR], Politics & government [JP]