Rightful Resistance in Rural China

This book introduces the concept of rightful resistance and explains how it operates in rural China.

Kevin J. O'Brien (Author), Lianjiang Li (Author)

9780521678520, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 13 February 2006

200 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.2 cm, 0.3 kg

'This book stands out from the others in this subfield. … O'Brien and Li's theoretical pursuit is anchored to solid empirical investigations … the book is thorough and informative … [it is] remarkable in many ways. It is small and accessible, but also rich and sophisticated. … a must-read for anyone who is interested in understanding state-society relations and political change in China.' The China Journal

How can the poor and weak 'work' a political system to their advantage? Drawing mainly on interviews and surveys in rural China, Kevin O'Brien and Lianjiang Li show that popular action often hinges on locating and exploiting divisions within the state. Otherwise powerless people use the rhetoric and commitments of the central government to try to fight misconduct by local officials, open up clogged channels of participation, and push back the frontiers of the permissible. This 'rightful resistance' has far-reaching implications for our understanding of contentious politics. As O'Brien and Li explore the origins, dynamics, and consequences of rightful resistance, they highlight similarities between collective action in places as varied as China, the former East Germany, and the United States, while suggesting how Chinese experiences speak to issues such as opportunities to protest, claims radicalization, tactical innovation, and the outcomes of contention.

1. Rightful resistance
2. Opportunities and perceptions
3. Boundary-spanning claims
4. Tactical escalation
5. Outcomes
6. Implications for China.

Subject Areas: Comparative politics [JPB], Regional studies [GTB]