| ID | 073379 |
| Title Proper | Mounting challenges to governance in China |
| Other Title Information | surveying collective protestors, religious sects and criminal organizations |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Chung, Jae Ho ; Lai, Hongyi ; Xia, Ming |
| Publication | 2006. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | With the further intensification of transitional reforms, the level of social instability in China has been rising unabated since the 1990s, calling overall governance into serious question. This study surveys three dimensions of instability in China - "collective public security incidents" (CoPSI), "unofficial" religious groups, and the expanding criminal networks - and explores the patterns of their regional distribution and the possibility of interconnectedness among the three. This study finds that both urban and rural protests have increased in frequency, expanded in size, diversified in terms of their participants' backgrounds, enlarged in geographical coverage, lasted longer and displayed higher levels of violence. The research also finds that economically stagnant central provinces of Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Sichuan are particularly vulnerable to instability. Furthermore, collective protests are gradually forming lateral linkages among different localities, religious sects and criminal organizations. Granted that discontents alone would not alter the political landscape, they can still serve as a strong catalyst to prod the Chinese state to search for effective solutions. While the state is not in an imminent danger of collapse, continuing instability is more likely than otherwise. |
| `In' analytical Note | China Journal No. 56; Jul 2006: p1-31 |
| Journal Source | China Journal No 56 |
| Key Words | China ; Governance ; Social Conflict ; Political Development |