Community Political Participation in China:

Sense of Community, Neighboring Behavior, and Social Capital

　

by

　

Dr. Julian Chun-Chung Chow

Associate Professor

School of Social Welfare,
University of California, Berkeley

　

Date:     23 March 2010 (Tuesday)

Time:    2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Venue:  Room Y7302, SS Multi-function Room, Academic Building (Yellow Zone),
             City University of Hong Kong

Language: English


Abstract

The recent development of local community and community participation has been one of the most significant phenomena in China. Increasingly, community plays a crucial role in China’s administrative structure, social welfare service delivery, economic development and political system. Opportunities for community participation are realized as a result of China's welfare system reform and socio-economic transition in the past two decades. It is important to understand the current development of China’s community practice from a political perspective. Using data from a nationally representative survey, this study examines the state of sense of community, neighboring behavior, and social capital in the People’s Republic of China, and explores their ability to predict local political participation, in the form of voting in elections for Urban Resident/Rural Villager Committees.  Findings and implications for the future development of local community democracy in China will be discussed.　

Biographical Sketch

　

Dr. Julian Chun-Chung Chow (周 鎭 忠) is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley.  He is also a faculty affiliated at the Center for Chinese Studies at UC Berkeley. His research focuses on studying the process and the impact of neighborhood change on social and economic conditions among low-income populations.  Specializing in community analysis, he is interested in studying urban poverty and improving community practice and social service provision.  Julian Chow’s research interests also include the study of social and mental health services delivery in ethnic and immigrant neighborhoods. He has been active in Asian American communities and has served on many national, state, and local organizations, addressing issues such as welfare reform, poverty, immigration, health, and mental health.

** All are Welcome **