Governance in China

Crucial to the success of any further economic reform, good governance is the Chinese Communist Party's greatest challenge as it plans for the future. This groundbreaking book explores the key dimensions of governance in China. These include the prospects for political reform; the processes of institution-building, such as strengthening state capacity and improving the legislative framework; enhancing regime legitimacy through local elections; and managing social discontent. Drawing on original fieldwork, the international group of authors provides a systematic analysis of the complex causes underlying China's governance problems and reflects on the prospects for future social and political change.

Jude Howell is professor and director of the Centre for Civil Society, London School of Economics.

Chapter 1 Governance Matters: Key Challenges and Emerging Tendencies Chapter 2 Elite Responses to Social Change and Globalization Chapter 3 Governance and Civil Service Reform Chapter 4 Reforming State Institutions: Privatizing The Lawyers' System Chapter 5 Bringing Culture Back In Chapter 6 Local Governance: Village and Township Direct Elections Chapter 7 Neighborhood-Level Governance: The Growing Social Foundation of a Public Sphere Chapter 8 New Directions in Civil Society: Organizing around Marginalized Interests Chapter 9 Gender and Governance: The Rise of New Women's Organizations Chapter 10 The Working Class and Governance Chapter 11 Governance and the Political Challenge of the Falun Gong Chapter 12 Getting to the Roots: Governance Pathologies and Future Prospects