The Relationship Between Rural Social Capital And Governmental Institutions In 20^th Century China

In recent years issues of resource inequality, environmental degradation, and corruption have become increasingly prevalent in the Chinese countryside. This has caused a growing number of academics and policymakers to put rural issues at the forefront of policy agendas. One possible solution for ameliorating rural problems is to promote rights of association among the rural populace, creating social groups and cooperatives in order to increase the political voice and economic standing of rural Chinese residents. Yet it is still common for policymakers and academics to argue that the development of such social organizations is impossible given China's unique cultural heritage. This thesis uses social capital theory to analyze the relationship between political institutions and social capital development in 20th century rural China. China's recent history shows that the quality and quantity of social capital tended to change in accordance with its institutional setting, indicating a correlation between the two that seems to support Institutionalist theory.