ABSTRACT

This book argues that the current state of China requires an important paradigm shift in the way the party-state manages the country’s development, and goes on to assess the fitness of the party-state for implementing such a paradigm shift and the likelihood of the party-state bringing this about. It brings together an examination of the very latest situation in a range of key areas where current developments have the potential to undermine substantially the status quo, areas such as the recent economic crisis and the resulting economic slowdown, increasing labour unrest, mounting calls for social justice, worsening urban-rural disparity, the urgent need to implement social welfare programmes, the rise of civil society, and the impact of new media. Overall, the book provides a thorough appraisal of the difficulties which China currently faces.

part III|73 pages

The party-state and Chinese society

chapter 9|18 pages

Village governance reforms in China

Paradigm shift or muddling through?

chapter 10|14 pages

Recent trends in Chinese rural education

The disturbing rural–urban disparities and the measures to meet them

chapter 12|15 pages

New media and subjectivity in China

Problematizing the public sphere