Information for Autocrats

Representation in Chinese Local Congresses

Bibliographic Data

ID19929637
AuthorsMelanie Manion (0000-0001-6449-6859, Duke University, corresponding author)
Year2015
Publication date2015-12-17
Open AccessYes
TypeBOOK
VenueInformation for Autocrats (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherCambridge University Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1017/cbo9781107273696
OpenAlexW4242367007
Open LibraryOL34556858M
ISBN9781107273696
LanguageEN
Citations received65

This book investigates the new representation unfolding in Chinese local congresses. Drawing qualitative fieldwork and data analysis from original surveys of 5,130 township, county, and municipal congressmen and women and constituents, Melanie Manion shows the priorities and problems of ordinary Chinese significantly influence both who gets elected to local congresses and what the congresses do once elected. Candidates nominated by ordinary voters are 'good types', with qualities that signal they will reliably represent the community. By contrast, candidates nominated by the communist party are 'governing types', with qualities that reflect officially valued competence and loyalty. However, congressmen and women of both types now largely reject the Maoist-era role of state agent. Instead, they view themselves as 'delegates', responsible for advocating with local government to supply local public goods. Manion argues that representation in Chinese local congresses taps local knowledge for local governance, thereby bolstering the rule of autocrats in Beijing

Beijing · China · Communism · Local government · Loyalty · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Representation (politics) · China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance · Chinese history and philosophy · Hong Kong and Taiwan Politics · Law · Public Administration · Decentralization in government · Legislative bodies · Municipal government · Political participation · politics and government · Representative government and representation

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