Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T05:02:41.634Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

5 - Co-optation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2019

Daniel C. Mattingly
Affiliation:
Yale University, Connecticut
Get access

Summary

In this chapter, I turn my attention to the dynamics of co-optation of local notables. One might expect that the inclusion of communal elites in local political institutions might strengthen the voice of villagers and make local governments more responsive. By contrast, I argue that when communal elites are included in formal political institutions in rural China, they help the state control their group. Drawing on evidence from case studies, an original experiment, and a national dataset, I show how the inclusion of local elites in formal political bodies allows the state to requisition land and enforce family planning policy while forestalling collective action. Case studies from Scotland and the United States suggest that this mechanism of informal control may have applicability beyond China. When the leaders of communal groups remain outside the state, however, they can help to organize resistance against it.

Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

  • Co-optation
  • Daniel C. Mattingly, Yale University, Connecticut
  • Book: The Art of Political Control in China
  • Online publication: 18 November 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108662536.005
Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

  • Co-optation
  • Daniel C. Mattingly, Yale University, Connecticut
  • Book: The Art of Political Control in China
  • Online publication: 18 November 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108662536.005
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Co-optation
  • Daniel C. Mattingly, Yale University, Connecticut
  • Book: The Art of Political Control in China
  • Online publication: 18 November 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108662536.005
Available formats
×