Rule of Law and Dispute Resolution in China: Evidence from Survey Data

China has come a long way in political reform since the Mao era, yet the Communist Party remains in firm control of political power and the tension between the state and society is high. Economic reform in the past 30 years has led to drastic redistribution of social interests and a further increase...

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Published inChina review (Hong Kong, China : 1991) Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 73 - 96
Main Author Tang, Wenfang
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Hong Kong 中文大學出版社 01.04.2009
The Chinese University Press
Chinese University Press
Subjects
Alternative dispute resolution
Authoritarianism
Chinese culture
Conflict resolution
Corruption
Cultural values
Culture
Disputes
Economic reform
Education
Law
Law reform
Legal evidence
Legal reform
Legitimacy
Market economies
Mediation
Political parties
Political power
Political protests
Political systems
Rule of law
Survey data
New York
United States > US
China
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Summary:China has come a long way in political reform since the Mao era, yet the Communist Party remains in firm control of political power and the tension between the state and society is high. Economic reform in the past 30 years has led to drastic redistribution of social interests and a further increase in social conflict. This study examines dispute resolution in post-Mao China. Using a 2004 national survey, I demonstrate the nature and intensity of social and political conflict in Chinese society by analysing the occurrence of disputes, the channels and outcome of dispute resolution. In addition to the impact of the single party political system, I also consider the roles of cultural values and market transition in conflict resolution. The findings show that while the political system and cultural values discourage dispute initiation, China's legal system is improving in facilitating dispute resolution and in promoting regime legitimacy.
ISSN:1680-2012