How to win a Nobel Peace Prize?State

Subversion101

Content• Current status of collective resistance• Effectiveness of collective resistance• What have been done?

“for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China”

-Nobel Committee 2008

-Charged with spreading a message to subvert the country and authority

-Charged with disturbing the social order

-Charged with spreading messages to instigate counter-revolutionary behavior.

Why do people protest? many protestors exhibit grievances

and feeling of injustice…

Structural Factors• Fast-growing economy• Industrial restructuring• Urbanization• Market reform

• More complicated society• Number of agents and

contracts

• Lack of rule of law• Central planning• Abuse of power

• Civil conflicts• State-citizen

disputes

Example: More land acquisition disputes

CCP argument: the need to “maintain social stability”

Effectiveness of collective resistance:Central vs Local Governments

• Tolerance levels

• Blockage in state authorities

Effectiveness of collective resistance:

• Political space• State tolerance

• Mobilization• Legal punishment does not apply to participants in

large-scale action (法不責眾 )• Leaders and Activist• Bear legal responsibility• Negotiate

• Information dissemination• Agree on goals

Example: Labour for higher wages

Limitations of collective resistance:

• Degree of accessibility• Many modes are

restricted and “illegal”

• Cost• Reported vs actual

litigated cases

• Required knowledge account• People tend to tolerate in

rural areas

Individuals, Governments, SocietyWhat have been done?

Push factors• Internet• Educated population• More Institutionalized • More lawyers• Central vs Local Communication• Relaxed regulations • Regime resilience

Pull factors• Media censorship• Legal system• Political reform• Confucius culture