Power and Patronage examines the unwritten rules and inner workings of
contemporary China's local politics and government. It exposes how these
rules have helped to keep the one-Party state together during decades of
tumultuous political, social, and economic change.
While many observers of Chinese politics have recognized the importance
of informal institutions, this book explains how informal local groups
actually operate, paying special attention to the role of patronage
networks in political decision-making, political competition, and
official corruption. While patronage networks are often seen as a
parasite on the formal institutions of state, Hillman shows that
patronage politics actually help China's political system function. In a
system characterized by fragmented authority, personal power relations,
and bureaucratic indiscipline, patronage networks play a critical role
in facilitating policy coordination and bureaucratic bargaining. They
also help to regulate political competition within the state, which
reduces the potential for open conflict. Understanding patronage
networks is essential for understanding the resilience of the Chinese
state through decades of change.
Power and Patronage is filled with rich and fascinating accounts of
the machinations of patronage networks and their role in the ruthless
and sometimes violent competition for political power.
