Protest and Resistance in the Chinese Party State - Paperback

by Hank Johnston (Editor), Sheldon Zhang (Editor)

Although contemporary China is a repressive state, protests and demonstrations have increased almost tenfold between 2005 and 2015. This is an astounding statistic when one considers that Marxist-Leninist regimes of the past tolerated little or no public dissent. How can protests become so common in an autocratic state? What are the trends of repression and mobilization? This collection helps to answer these compelling questions through in-depth analyses of several Chinese protest movements and state responses. The chapters examine the opportunities and constraints for protest mobilization and explains their importance for understanding contemporary Chinese society.

Author Biography

Hank Johnston is professor of sociology at San Diego State University and SDSU Global Research Professor 2021-2022. He is founding editor of Mobilization: An International Quarterly.
Sheldon X. Zhang is Professor in the School of Criminology and Justice Studies at the University of Massachusetts. He is currently serving as an expert consultant to several organizations such as the International Labor Organization, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Freedom Fund, and Walk Free Foundation.