Introduction

Abstract

China’s recent rise to prominence has resulted in constant media attention and academic enquiries; its successes and scandals are swiftly brought to the forefront of the public’s consciousness. However, the nation’s achievements and failures are often viewed in a vacuum, where little thought is given to the interrelatedness of social issues from both state and society perspectives. Given the continued dominance of the Chinese state in many aspects of society, yet, bearing in mind the growing role of social actors in shaping China’s development, the contributors of this collection resituate our understanding of the challenges facing the nation by presenting a nuanced view of Chinese state-society relationship.