Shukai Zhao Knihy

The book delves into the complex dynamics between peasants and reform policies in China, revealing a disconnect between intended benefits and actual outcomes. It highlights how well-meaning rural policies have often resulted in adverse effects due to the lack of effective peasant engagement in the political process. By analyzing historical and contemporary rural policies, the author illustrates the significant gap between political intentions and institutional realities, emphasizing the need for greater involvement of the peasantry in shaping their own futures.

Focusing on the structural constraints of township governance in China, this volume examines how these limitations shape the daily actions of grassroots leaders. Through interviews with township and village officials and residents, it reveals the interplay between individual behaviors and institutional frameworks. The book analyzes the fiscal, power dynamics, and public service roles of township governments, highlighting their relationships with higher authorities and local communities. Its engaging narrative offers a profound insight into the challenges faced by rural cadres in contemporary China.

Focusing on the historical transformation of Chinese peasants, the book explores the impact of political and economic conditions on their lives, particularly highlighting the rise of migrant workers. It examines the consequences of social mobilization from reforms, addressing issues such as political participation and citizenship for those who transition to urban life. The chapters delve into urbanization's social and economic implications, living conditions for migrant workers, challenges faced by government policies, and recent developments in the mobilization of peasants.

This book focuses on analyzing the inter-relationship between Chinese peasants and the reform and it tries to understand the conditions of peasants during the course of the Chinese social transition. This book argues that Chinese peasants are the most important force that keeps the reform going. More importantly, this book argues that this force comes from the peasants’ pursuit of their own social, political and economic interest, not some spontaneous demand for “reform” itself. This inherent relationship between the peasants and the reform is summarized into five major relationships: the inter-relationship between peasants and the central government; between peasants and local government; between peasants and rural democratization; between peasants and social constructions; and between peasants and local officials. These five inter-relationships are the prime mechanism for the interaction between Chinese peasants and the reform, and these forms the basis for understanding and analyzing the inter-relationship between the state and peasants.