ABSTRACT
Chinese society has been in a relatively unstable state in recent times, with more social protests and unrest resulting from its fast economic growth and rapid social changes. The xinfang system is a mechanism for Chinese citizens to air their grievances, but it faces a serious challenge as the number of xinfang is said to have reached “flood peak” in 2003 and is expected to continue climbing. The dilemma rests with the fact that the Chinese government and the Communist Party are using the xinfang system to maintain their close links with the masses, but they are afraid that the xinfang activities of the people could jeopardize the social stability of the country. The recent attempt to put it under legal rein has the purpose of balancing the two contradictory elements. However, it is doubtful whether this measure is effective in practice.
