Collective action in China and its social and political implications

Abstract

A school of thought on China’s rural unrest contends that rural unrest not only has successfully forced China’s top leaders to introduce measures to improve the economic wellbeing of the rural population but will also democratise the political and social culture in rural areas. While agreeing with its contention about the positive economic outcome of rural political activism, this paper challenges its over-optimistic assessment of the political and social implications of rural unrest.