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Cited by 1,104

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Rightful Resistance in Rural China

O'Brien, Kevin J., Li, Lianjiang·2006·Cambridge University Press eBooks

Abstract

How can the poor and weak 'work' a political system to their advantage? Drawing mainly on interviews and surveys in rural China, Kevin O'Brien and Lianjiang Li show that popular action often hinges on locating and exploiting divisions within the state. Otherwise powerless people use the rhetoric and commitments of the central government to try to fight misconduct by local officials, open up clogged channels of participation, and push back the frontiers of the permissible. This 'rightful resistance' has far-reaching implications for our understanding of contentious politics. As O'Brien and Li explore the origins, dynamics, and consequences of rightful resistance, they highlight similarities between collective action in places as varied as China, the former East Germany, and the United States, while suggesting how Chinese experiences speak to issues such as opportunities to protest, claims radicalization, tactical innovation, and the outcomes of contention.

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Metadata

Authors
O'Brien, K. J., & Li, L.
Venue
Cambridge University Press eBooks
Published
2006-02-13
OpenAlex
W4298306008
Cited by
1,104
References
0
FWCI
35.43
Type
book
Language
en
Open access
closed

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Rightful Resistance in Rural China. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1017/cbo9780511791086
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O'Brien, K. J., & Li, L. (2006). Rightful Resistance in Rural China. Cambridge University Press eBooks. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511791086

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