Primary-Level Government

This book examines what constitutes power in rural China, its structure, how it is exercised, and its practical consequences. The author’s explorations are motivated by two key concerns. On one hand, theoretical questions about what rural political reforms in the first half of the 20th century did or did not accomplish continue to demand an adequate answer. On the other hand, any reasonable explanation for the recent surge in social conflicts in rural areas must begin with a sound understanding