Social and Political Activism in China: How Citizen Activists are Silently Shaping China's Democracy

This book explores the question of how far China is becoming more democratic. It discusses the activities and thinking of academics, educators, journalists, government officials, lawyers and other members of China's civil society, and argues that, although China's political culture and traditions are not very democratic, they are becoming more so. It examines how Chinese social and political activists consciously and unconsciously apply the principles and practices of representative, deliberative and participatory democracy in their reformist activities, and shows how such people influence public policy making and contribute to institutional and cultural change. The book concludes with recommendations for Chinese intellectuals, policy makers and community leaders as to how they could carry the democratization process further still.