Land conflicts, rural finance and capacity of the Chinese state

Abstract This article evaluates the capacity of the Chinese state in maintaining stability by examining the merits and limitations of its responses to the dominant form of rural unrest in recent years: conflicts over land. The current response of the Chinese state that focusses on upward accountability of state agents is misguided. We argue that the ultimate solution hinges upon the success of the Chinese state in strengthening its capacity in engaging society and capability to reformulate a new fiscal order that provides adequate resources for effective governance at rural grass roots. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.