Extending political participation in China: new opportunities for citizens in the policy process

Authoritarian political systems are portrayed as offering few opportunities for citizens to participate in politics – particularly in the policy process. This paper’s contribution is to set out new mechanisms that enable Authoritarian political systems are portrayed as offering few opportunities for citizens to participate in politics – particularly in the policy process. This paper’s contribution is to set out new mechanisms that enable Chinese citizens to evaluate government performance, contribute to decision-making, shape policy agendas and feed back on implementation. Based on fieldwork in the city of Hangzhou, we argue that the local party-state orchestrates citizen participation in the policy process, but members of the public nevertheless do have influence. Political participation is widening in China, but it is still controlled. It is not yet clearly part of a process of democratization, but it does establish the principle of citizen rights to oversee the government

The PLA in Guangdong Province: Warlordism and Localism

The party-state system in the province includes a considerable concentration of People's liberation army forces. Guangdong is the location of the headquarters of the Guangzhou military region, whose central missions include the security of the South China coastal areas as well as of the interior Hunan and Hubei provinces. In July 1979, the central government approved a package of special policies for the province, that has been the essential foundation for its development since. Subsequent experiments have involved not only substantial provincial budgetary independence, but also enterprise management, pricing policies, housing provisions, and the establishment of the special economic zones. In addition to such general arguments, Guangdong's relationship with Beijing and with other parts of China, and its potential for warlordism are determined by a more complex set of economic, political, strategic and military considerations. Whilst China's economy is clearly one important determinant of Guangdong's development, it is no longer the only economic determinant

Guest editor's introduction

The People's Republic of China was proclaimed on 1 October 194

Regional differences in business ethics in the People’s Republic of China: A multi-dimensional approach to the effects of modernisation

Business ethics, China, Modernisation, Moral judgements, Regional differences,