Contents -- Introduction -- 1. Background and Questions -- 1.1. Township government and "sannong issues" -- 1.2. Township government in the governmental system -- 1.3. Township government and " state-society relationship" -- 2. The Analytical Framework of Institution of Township Government -- 2.1. The institutional dissimilation of grassroots government -- 2.2. Reform and governmental involution -- 2.3. Institutionalization of government -- 3. Structure of the Book -- Chapter 1 Progress of Township Governance Studies -- 1.1. Policy Description and Comment -- 1.1.1. Policy tracking -- 1.1.2. Process of reform -- 1.1.2.1. First, merger of township and town -- 1.1.2.2. Second, restructure administration and decentralization -- 1.1.2.3. Third, separation between the function of party and government -- 1.1.2.4. Fourth, separation between the functions of government and enterprise -- 1.1.3. Comprehensive rural reforms -- 1.2. Research Review -- 1.2.1. Domestic research -- 1.2.1.1. First, reformation of township finance and tax and fee -- 1.2.1.1.1. Position of township government -- 1.2.1.2. Second, governance of township sand villages -- 1.2.2. International research -- 1.2.2.1. First, course of development -- 1.2.2.2. Second, key questions -- 1.2.2.2.1. Study of grassroots democracy -- 1.2.2.2.2. Study of grassroots conflict -- 1.2.2.2.3. Study of government governance -- 1.2.2.2.4. Study of the operation of grassroots government -- 1.2.2.2.5. Enlightenment to us -- 1.2.3. Rethinking township research -- 1.3. Research Design -- 1.3.1. Theoretical framework -- 1.3.1.1. First, from the point of relationship between grassroots government and society -- 1.3.1.2. Second, interaction between government of upper level and grassroots government -- 1.3.1.3. Third, township government itself -- 1.3.2. Analytical path -- 1.3.3. Research Methods.

1.3.4. Data sources -- Chapter 2 Organizational and Personnel Structure -- 2.1. Organizational Structure -- 2.1.1. Township leadership -- 2.1.2. Departmental structure -- 2.1.3. Personnel and staff: A complex situation -- 2.1.3.1. Bewildering staffing arrangements -- 2.1.3.2. Complex personnel structure -- 2.1.4. Township expansion -- 2.1.4.1. Conclusion -- 2.2. Institutional Reforms -- 2.2.1. Institutional streamlining -- 2.2.2. Township mergers -- 2.2.3. Suggestions for Reforms -- 2.2.3.1. Convert the township governments into county-level agencies -- 2.2.3.2. Create conditions for implementing township self-government -- 2.2.3.3. Continue to streamline -- 2.2.3.4. Conclusion -- 2.3. Shaping Government Forms -- 2.3.1. Township government features -- 2.3.2. Evolution path -- 2.3.3. Organizational foundation -- Chapter 3 Fiscal Standing and Debt Crisis -- 3.1. Hard-Pressed Township Finances -- 3.1.1. Financial systems -- 3.1.2. Financial revenues -- 3.1.3. Financial expenditures -- 3.1.4. Salaries -- 3.1.5. Tax reforms -- 3.1.5.1. Conclusion -- 3.2. Debt Chaos of Township Governments -- 3.2.1. Extent and structure of the debts -- 3.2.2. How the debts grew -- 3.2.3. Effect of debts and prospects for their elimination -- 3.2.3.1. Conclusion -- 3.3. Politics in Finance -- 3.3.1. The financial crisis and financial system -- 3.3.2. Financial crisis and government accountability -- 3.3.3. The financial crisis and the government budget -- Chapter 4 Power and Accountability -- 4.1. Power System of Township Governments -- 4.1.1. Integrated institution -- 4.1.2. Centralized power system -- 4.1.3. Internal units -- 4.1.3.1. "Half a chessboard" (ban pan huo qi) -- 4.1.4. Vertical agencies -- 4.1.4.1. "A lost game" (yi pan si qi) -- 4.1.4.2. Conclusion -- 4.2. Accountability System of Township Governments -- 4.2.1. Accountability within counties and prefectures.

4.2.2. Accountability within townships -- 4.2.3. Focus of the accountability system -- 4.2.4. Individuals in the accountability system -- 4.2.4.1. Conclusion -- 4.3. Incentive Structures -- 4.3.1. Dual dislocation -- 4.3.2. Substitution of goals -- 4.3.3. Political control of the government -- Chapter 5 Control Systems -- 5.1. Obligatory Interactions in the Affairs of Township Government -- 5.1.1. A sea of meetings -- 5.1.2. A mountain of documents -- 5.1.3. A plethora of reports -- 5.1.4. Unceasing visitors -- 5.1.5. Frequent inspections -- 5.2. Township- Village Relations -- 5.2.1. Township administration of village cadres -- 5.2.1.1. Point-scoring audits -- 5.2.1.2. Non-point-scoring audits -- 5.2.2. Township control over village finances -- 5.2.3. Townships' area management and Bao cun systems -- 5.2.3.1. The area management system -- 5.2.3.2. The Bao Cun system -- 5.2.4. Performance of village cadres -- 5.2.4.1. Conclusion -- 5.3. Deadlock of Control -- 5.3.1. Policy malfunctions -- 5.3.2. Disappointment of the grassroots levels -- 5.3.3. Management malfunctions -- Chapter 6 Public Services of Township Governments -- 6.1. Primary Areas of Public Service -- 6.1.1. Public security in towns and villages -- 6.1.2. Rural education -- 6.1.3. Public health -- 6.2. Management of Social Conflicts -- 6.2.1. Intra-village conflicts -- 6.2.1.1. Villagers versus villagers -- 6.2.1.2. Villagers versus cadres -- 6.2.2. Petitioning by villagers -- 6.2.3. Grassroots political trust -- 6.2.3.1. Factors that improve the situation -- 6.2.3.2. Factors that worsen the situation -- 6.2.3.2.1. The decreasing of political trust -- 6.3. Control and Governance -- 6.3.1. Public responsibilities of the government -- 6.3.2. Double roles of cadres -- 6.3.3. Political intentions of rural conflicts -- 6.3.4. Defining good governance -- Chapter 7 Township Government in Prospect.

7.1. Destiny in the Mid of Crisis -- 7.1.1. Situation and changes -- 7.1.1.1. Type A: Suffering and waiting -- 7.1.1.2. Type B: Dispersal and withdrawal -- 7.1.1.3. Type C: Group transfer -- 7.1.1.4. Type D: Transition to predator -- 7.1.2. Path of reforms -- 7.1.3. Challenge of reforms -- 7.2. Future in View of the Reality -- 7.2.1. Realistic choices of reforms -- 7.2.2. Future in uncertainty -- 7.3. Macro Capture of Micro Reforms -- 7.3.1. Central and local government relationship -- 7.3.2. The party and government relationship -- 7.3.3. State and society relationship -- Chapter 8 Government Functions and Alienation of Institutions -- 8.1. Grassroots government and Rural Development -- 8.1.1. Historical progress -- 8.1.2. Theoretical debate -- 8.2. Involution of Grassroots Government -- 8.2.1. Corporatism as government function -- 8.2.2. Fragmented government authority -- 8.2.3. Campaign style government behavior -- 8.3. Institutional Alienation of Grassroots Government -- 8.3.1. Alienation -- 8.3.2. Institutional alienation -- 8.3.3. Government institution alienation -- 8.4. Origins of Government Institutional Alienation -- 8.4.1. Historical legacy and path dependence -- 8.4.1.1. Paternalism -- 8.4.1.2. The legacy of campaign style governance of the revolutionary era -- 8.4.2. Self-interested government -- Chapter 9 Institutionalization of Governments and Reforms -- 9.1. Basis of Government Institutionalization -- 9.1.1. Politics and administration -- 9.1.2. Government and society -- 9.2. Institutionalization of the Government -- 9.2.1. The propounding of political institutionalization -- 9.2.2. Driving force of governmental innovation -- 9.3. Discussion on Reform -- 9.3.1. Grassroots democracy -- 9.3.2. Grassroots autonomy -- 9.3.3. Judiciary construction -- Bibliography -- Postscript -- Appendix I: Interview Outline of Town Leaders.

Appendix II: Interview Outline of the Village Leaders -- Index.