BOOK REVIEW

摘要

Most books on the role of the state and society are written in a top-down manner, with the views of the lower orders in society being almost ignored or else accorded token treatment. This carefully written book on the Chinese state is different in that the focus is not on the Beijing government, but rather it is a compendium of a series of local studies from different parts of the country with each being a little vignette within a broader canvas. Indeed, this is the key strength of the book.