Grassroots Politics

How long was the QIN dynasty era

221-206 b.c

QIN dynasty ideas

Founded legalism, rulers should be strong Ana govern through force.

Rigid, authoritarian, centralized government

QIN dynasty - legalism

Philosopher Han Fei zi, emphasizing law and order in maintaining state control and stability

People are inherently selfish, rust be controlled through rules and regulations.

Advocates for severe punishment and a strict legal code

Legalism framework - origins and design-

Origin: Warefare was constant and ritual and tradition were useless in mobilizing the state

Design: Legalism acted as a well oiled war machine which was pricsely what rulers in the Warring States priod demanded

What were Qin’s reforms

Unified China - Standardized laws; laws, writing, currency, and weight measures

Divided China into 36 districts - each province was administered by appointed Governor- General

Weakened the local lords - confiscated their personal weapons

Qin’s other reforms

Suppressed criticism - Burned books that held opposed views to legalist principles,

Built the great wall and Terra Cota Soldiers

Improved irrigation systems

Han Dynasty era (West and East duration)

West Han: 206 B.C - 9 A.D;

Eastern Han: 25A.D - 220 A.D

Han Dynasty Core ideals

A ruling model for later dynasties

The main population of China still calls itself the Han people

Softened the harsh policies developed in Qin dynasty and lowered taxes, though still maintained some legalist policies

Strong centralized goverment

Han’s reforms

Confucian approach

Significant intellectual growth, (exchange of philosophies)

Bureaucracy expanded

Remarkable economic growth and technology innovation.

Confucian approach

Emphasizing moral leadership, meritocracy, and the importance of rituals and propriety

Han’s reforms

The Silk Road & Arts

• Created paper, compass, acupuncture, water mill, sundial, plow

Society structure of Han Dynasty

Family was central to the well-being of the state

Father (head/authority) - children obeyed parents & grandparents/took care of them

Women possessed few privileges, low status, little education, didn’t own property,

obeyed husbands and mother-in-law

Valued sons over daughters

Han Wudi

The greatest Han emperor, ruled from 141 to 87 B.C

• promoted econoic growth, monopolized salt and iron

• Developed a civil service exam system

• started a system of public schools

  • Though the schools were exclusively for boys and only the wealthy could afford schooling

Why did Han Dynasty end

Reign of emperor Yuan of Han, the imperial power waned significantly

• this led to a rise in the influence of concubines and eunuchs

Western Han Dynastym concubines often engaged in fierce competition for the emperor’s favor and power

• Led to political intrigue, betrayal, and even murder, as concubines sought to elecate theirown status and that of their families

Influence extended to appointment of officials, leading to corruption and the appointment of incompetent individuals to key positions

Ancient China - Eunichs

Eunuchs were needed for court service due to their ability to perform heavy labor tasks while avoiding sexual relationships

Eunchs are considered as more reliable servants in the palace since were unable to have children

Under the influence of Confucian culture, the existence of eunuchs was accepted and recognized by society.

The eunuch system gradually improved and formed a unique palace culture and management system. This historical inertia kept eunuchs in the ancient Chinese palace for a long time and played an important role

Week 3 - the three kingdoms

220 - 280 A.D

Three kingdoms perios marked frequent battles and wars

• kingdoms formed alliances and betrayed each other in pursuit of their own interest

Cao Pi, Cao Wei

Liu Bei, Shu Han, ‘

and

Sun Quan, Wu Dynasty

Cao Wei Ideals and abilities

Cao Cao was a skilled strategist and politician,

Known for ability to consolidate power

Govern effectively, exceptional military leader

• Known for tactical powess and ability to adapt to different battlefield conditions.

• Ability to adapt to different battlefield conditions. He was ambitious and willing to use cunning ruthlessness to achieve his goals, sometimes using harsh methods

Shu Han Ideals and attributes

Shu Han: Liu Bei was known for his charisma and ability to inspire loyalty

• emphasized moral integrity and righteousness, often claiming to

restore the Han Dynasty’s rightful rule.

Eastern Wu Attributes and Ideals

• Sun Quan was a practical leader, focused on maintaining stability and consolidating his power in the south

• Excelled in diplomacy, known for having strong naval forces and played a crucial role in battles like the battle of Red Cliffs

Tang Dynasty Era

618 - 907 A.D

Tang Dynasty Attributes

Known for political stability, cultural flourishing, and economic prosperity

The tang Dynasty had a robust foreign policy and engaged in diplomacy and trade

Tang Dynasty Legacy

Buddhism - Even emperors were buddist, combined with Daoism and Confucianism

• It also celebrated for it’s achievement in arts and culture

• The period also saw advancement in painting, ceramics, and music

Tang Reforms

Lower the Tax rate: An emperor collecting too heavy taxes is like a man eating his own flesh

The first woman to rule - Wu Ze Tian - Ruled through her sons until taking all pwoer for herself

How did Wu Ze Tian rule (burreaucracy)

Cultivated a new class of officials loyal directly to her, rather than to the old aristocratic families.

• Heavily promoted the system that selected officials based on merit and literary skill,

How did wu Rule (Legitimacy and ideology)

She commissioned Buddhist texts, that prophesied a female monarch who would be the reincarnation of bodhisattva

This provided a divine justification for her rule, framing her not as a usuper but a universal moarch

How did Wu rule

Curel Officials - Some officials were given free rein to use torture and brutal interrogation methods

Rewarding Merit and Loyalty - Officials who proved their ability and loyalty were promoted rapidly, regardless of their background.

She formally ended the tang dynasty and proclaimed her own Zhou dynasty, a bold move to establish a new political order.

Yuan Dunasty Era Length &Mongol Invasion

1279-1368

• First time non-han people ruled land

• Mongols invaded in 1209

What are Mongols

Mongols are tough and fierce warriors - Genghis Khan united the clans and aimed to conquer the world

How to rule as non-han people

Adopted aspects of Han culture, ruled as a Han emperor

• Han people were not allowed to have weapon nor have high places in office

• Enhanced foreign trades - guarded silk road

• Welcomed foreign merchants to China’s ports and offered them special priviledges

Why dynasty decline in Yuan

Corruption and Rebellion!!

Overtime, The yuan Dynasty faced internal corruption, financial problems, and natural disasters, which weakend its control

Social unreat, and peasant revolt became more frequent

The red turbant rebellion, a major peasant uprising - played a crucial role in the dynasty’s downfall, Led by Zhu Yuanzhang, establishing the Ming Dynasty

Qing Dynasty Era and Fact

1644- 1912

Manchu ruled and discriminated against Han Chinese

Chinese male were forced to wear a braid as a sign of loyalty and subservience

Qing dynasty governing system

Military and administrative organization was based on the Eight banners system

Qing Dynasty effects

China’s rapid population growth put pressure on resources and contributed to social and economic challenges

Corruption: upper classes lived in luxury, corruption was more common

Western invasion - British and other force rade, war, and “unfair” treaties on China

Qing dynasty: Hundred Days of Reform

1898, Ambitious reform program to reform the examination system and bureaucracy

• after 103 days passed, it was supprsed by conservatives in qing court led by Empress Cixi

Qing Dynasty Rebellion

As rebelling became more common, Europen governments and forces helped the qing government because rebellions were bad for their business

The uprising rebellions

Taiping rebellion:

Boxer Rebellion

Xinhai Revolution

Taiping Rebellion

20-30 million people dies in the 14 years’ struggle

Boxer rebellion

Boxers ere tarving farmers who wanted foreigners out of China; received support from high officials of Qing court secretly

Xinhai Revolution

1911, The Wuchang uprising of the rebellion brough an end to the Qing dynasty and led to the establishment of the republic of China

What did the Xinhai revolution accomplish

Ended the dynastic rule in China thousands of years

Who led the revolution (Xinhai)

Sun yat-Sen/Sun Wen

Cons of the revolution

Formed a weak and new government - warloads began to fight for power and the civil war broke out

Civil war in China - origin and outcomes

War between communists and Nationalists

• communists were victorious in 1949 while nationalists retreated to formosa

• ended impeialism

Why did the civil war stop in 1932

Japanese invasion

Why did the civil war stop in 1937

Japanese Escalation - nanjing massacre

Week 4 - Organization of Local government

Most important administrative level has been the province and municipality

• the non-central government is administedre through provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities under the central government, and special administrative regions

How many provinces (including Taiwan), autonomous regions, direct municipalities

(直辖市), and SAR does China have?

23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 direct municipalities, 2 Special administrative regions

5 autonomous regions

Inner Mongolia

XinJiang Uygur

Guangzi Zhuang

Ningxia Hui

Tibet Zang

What do autonomous regions mean?

Main ethnic group that is non-han

The population of ethnic minorities accounts for 8.9% of China’s total population; the autonomous area covers 64% of the country

Government control over Autonomous regions

The PC has the right to make self-governing regulations and rules based on local politics, economics, and culture

• public agencies have the right to keep all revenue generated locally and decide where to allocate it

• they also recieve special subsidies

Direct municipalities

Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing

Significance of direct administed municipalities (4 reasons)

Allow the central government to have direct control over strategically and economically important areas

• allows cities more autonomy in economic planning and policy making, leading to rapid development

• Can be used for testing ground for economic and administrative reform

• DAM require a different administrative approach compared to rural provinces

• The establishment of DAM can be influenced by political and historical factors

Special Administrative regions

Hong Kong 1997, Macau 1999

Governing Structure of SAR

Equal to provincial level divisions

• Chief executive is the head

• highest degree of autonomy

• minimal or no interference by central government

SAR: One country, Two systems

One country: emphasizes HK and Macau as a part of the PRC, subject to Chinese sovereignty

Two systems: Acknowledges that HK and Macau can maintain their existing legal systems, economic systems, way of life and autonomy for 50 years after their respective handovers

Provinces strucutre - Three levels

Three levels: Province, country, township.

Province strutuce - organization

Party structure: party secretary and standing committee

Government structure: people’s congress

Province level elections - Provincial

5 year periods

Province Country and township level elections

Held every three years

Central-Local relations in policy implementation

Local level reforms provide the basis for national implementation

Provincial people’s congresses can inact local legislation

Special Economic Zones - SEZ

SEZ’s provide a local base for experimentation and the importance of local leadership

Shenzhen is one of these zones

Week 4 - Public participation in rural government

the involvement of those who are affected by the decision in the decision making process

Ladder of citizen particiaption

Lowest: Manipulation

Therapy

Informing

Consultation

Placation

Partnership

Delegated power

Highest: Citizen control

Manipulation (No Participation)

Citizens are placed on rubber-stamp advisory committees or boards to "educate" them or to get them to endorse a pre-determined plan.

Therapy (No Participation) ：

The focus is on "fixing" the citizens, pretending that their lack of power is due to their own deficiencies (e.g., a "bad attitude" or lack of understanding). The underlying power structure is never questioned.

Informing (Degrees of Tokenism)：

A one-way flow of information from officials to

citizens. While a necessary first step, it is often used as a standalone tactic without allowing for feedback or negotiation.

Examples include public announcements,

brochures, and websites.

Consultation (Degrees of Tokenism)：

A two-way flow of information. Citizens are

asked for their opinions through surveys, public hearings, and focus groups. However,

this rung is still tokenism because there is no guarantee that the concerns expressed will

influence the final decision.

Placation (Degrees of Tokenism)： .

A step further than consultation, where some

citizens are given a direct advisory role, such as a seat on a committee. However, the

powerful retain the final decision-making authority. Token concessions may be made, but

the fundamental power imbalance remains

Partnership (Degrees of Citizen Power):

Power is redistributed through negotiation

between citizens and power-holders. They agree to share planning and decision-making

responsibilities, often using joint committees or policy structures.

Delegated Power (Degrees of Citizen Power):

Citizens achieve a dominant decision-

making authority over a particular plan or program. They have the power to veto plans or

set the agenda, and the government has agreed to this arrangement.

Citizen Control (Degrees of Citizen Power):

Citizens have full, managerial power over

a program, project, or institution. They are in charge of the policy-making,

implementation, and management, with no intermediaries from the state. This is the

highest form of self-governance.

The organic Law of Village Committtees

1987 - Law established framework for village autonomy

Village Self-Governance (村民自治):

This is the cornerstone. Emphasize it was a landmark move to rebuild rural governance after decollectivization.

The “Two Meetings” System (两会制度)

Village Committee (村民委员会): The executive body, elected by villagers.

Village Assembly (村民会议) / Village Representative Assembly (村民代表会议): The

supreme decision-making body in the village.

Village Committee (村民委员会):

The executive body, elected by villagers.

Village Assembly (村民会议) / Village Representative Assembly (村民代表会议):

The supreme decision-making body in the village.

Villagers Committee

legally-mandated executive and administrative body of village-level self-governance in China

• mass organization of self-governance at the grassroots level, not a formal level

  of state power'

• performs critical adminstrative functions and acts as a bridge between state and villagers

Villager Committee Election Process:

• VC members are supposed to be elected through direct, competitive, and democratic elections by all eligible voters in the village.

• Elections are held every three years.

Village Committte responsibilities - 4

Public Affairs and Public Services

Economic development and management

Social Governance and maintenance

Liasion and Implementation

Public Affairs and Public Services

• Managing and maintaining public infrastructure

• Mediating civil disputes among villagers

• Assisting in providing public services such as healthcare education, and care for the elderly and children

Economic development and management

• Managing the village collective assets

• Assissting the government in implementing agricultural policies and poverty alleviation projects

Social governance and maintenance

Protecting village’s collective property and the interests of individual villagers

publicizing and educating villagers on state laws, regulations, and government policies

Liaison and Implementation:

The VC is responsible for implementing decisions and directivesfrom higher township governments. It is the primary channel through which the state reaches into the village.

It conveys villagers' opinions, demands, and suggestions to the higher authorities.

Village assembly and it’s impact

highest organ of power in the village, embodying the principle of direct democracy.

In larger villages, or in villages with high levels of out-migration for work (migrant laborers), convening a meeting of the entire adult population is often logistically impossible.

Therefore, while it holds ultimate authority, it is often difficult to convene regularly.

Village assembly Membership:

Composed of all adult villagers (18 years and older) in the village. This is the equivalent of a "town meeting" where every eligible resident has a voice.

Village representative asssembly

This body was created to solve the practical problem of convening the full Village Assembly. It acts as

a delegated, standing decision-making body.

Village representative assembly Membership:

Composed of elected representatives from each villager small group (村民小组), plus

the Village Party Secretary, the Villagers Committee members, and other influential local figures

VRA purpose

authorized by the Village Assembly to exercise decision-making power on most day-to-day major

issues. It also supervises the work of the Villagers Committee

Village Represenative Assembly highlights

Village Representative Assembly is the most active and powerful of the "Two Meetings." It meets more frequently and handles the bulk of significant village affairs.

Where most debate negotiation, and decision making takes place

VRA Challenges

Elite Capture (精英捕获

AND
Out migration

VRA Challenges: Elite Capture

Can be dominated by vilalge elites clan leaders and the wealthy shutting out orfinary villagers especially women and marginalized groups

VRA Challenges: Out migration

Young, educated people moving to cities leaves an aging population less likely to particapte actively

Types of voting

FPTP

Majority runoff/ two round system

Instant runoff voting/Ranked choice

Borda Count

FPTP

Each voter selects one candidate; the candidate with the most votes wins.

Cons: spoiler effect: minor candidates take votes away from major candidates who is ideologically similar

Majority runoff/ two round system

If no candidate win majority the top two compete in a second round

• ensures majority support fo the winner

Cons:

• More costly, lower turnout in round two

Ranked Choice / Instant Runoff Voting (IRV)

Voters rank candidates; lowest-ranked are eliminated sequentially until someone has a majority.

Repeat until one candidate has a majority.

Pros: Reduces strategic voting, encourages civility, avoids "spoiler" effect.

Cons: Complex counting, can violate “one person, one vote” in some interpretations.

Borda Count

Voters rank candidates; ranks converted into points;

candidate with the highest total wins.

Pros: Reflects overall consensus -rewarding candidates who are broadly

acceptable, not just first-choice favorites.

Cons: Vulnerable to strategic manipulation and irrelevant alternatives.

Voting Paradox

voting paradox occurs when collective preferences formed through majority voting

are cyclic and inconsistent, even though individual voters’ preferences are perfectly

rational and consistent.

group as a whole may not have a clear winner —

because majority preferences can “loop