The Shequ Experiment: grassroots political reform in urban China

Co-authored with James Derleth, published in 'Journal of Contemporary China,' 13 (November 2004): 747-777.

Although China’s economic reforms have been responsible for generating unprecedented growth, they have also been responsible for rendering the danwei, the foundation of the Chinese political and social system in urban areas, increasingly irrelevant. This has serious implications since danweis have been both the organizational base of the Communist Party and the vehicle through which social services were provided. Belatedly, the government has responded to this dilemma by experimenting with social organizations at the grassroots level in urban areas. One of the most significant experiments is the development of shequs. In the latter half of the 1990s, shequs were given more autonomy and responsibilities. Some of the more advanced shequs began to experiment with elections and social welfare
functions previously provided by the government. The experiment, however, is still in an initial phase and shequs have not yet had a significant impact on the polity. Nonetheless, the Party and government have placed much importance on the shequ experiment. Their success will thus allow us some insight into the process of political development in urban China.

The District People's Congress and Political Reform in China

Co-authored with James Derleth, published in 'Problems of Post Communism,' 2 (March/April 2002): 15-22.

Virtual China: The Internet as Threat or Opportunity? A Response

Published in 'St. Antony’s International Review,' 3 (May 2007): 58-63.

社区实验: 市民社会的前兆 [Experimenting with Community Level Institutions: Prospects for Civil Society in China]

Co-authored with James Derleth, published in '当代世界社会主义问题 [Issues of Contemporary World Socialism],' 4 (2003): 3-18.

Community Development and Political Reform in Urban China

Co-authored with James Derleth, published in 'China Development Brief,' (Autumn 2002): 38-43.

中国社区发展: 过去, 现在 和未来的任务 [Community Development in China: Past, Current and Future Roles]

Co-authored with James Derleth, published in 中国和加拿大的社区发展  [Community Development in China and Canada], ed. Chen Qineng and Jiang Peng (Beijing: Ethnic Publishing House, 2002) 75-87.

Other publications available upon request.