"Chen's
broad theoretical framework and comprehensive
discussion of the surveys make Popular
Political Support in Urban China a very
useful text for the comparative quantitative
study of political participation, collective
action, civil society, nationalism,
economic liberalization, and institutional
reform in general...... As such, it
is also a very neat introduction to
the range of methodological problems
and limitations to the study of politics
in China, and of societies in economic
transition in general. Comparativists
will find this book useful for many
research and pedagogical goals."
--- Perspectives on Politics (American
Political Science Association, Vol.
3, pp. 918-919)
"Chen explores the impact of
a variety of sociodemographic and
attitudinal variables on political
support. He carefully lays out the
theoretical reasoning for the impact
of each variable and provides conscientious
literature reviews. He culminates
his investigations with regression
analysis in which the effects of each
variable on diffuse and specific support
are estimated when other variables
are taken into account. ...... Chen...has
made good use of the findings to throw
light on the most consequential and
contested question of China's domestic
politics today, its prospects for
stability."
--- Political Science Quarterly
(Volume 120, No. 2, 2005, pp. 303-304)
“Despite obstacles presented
by Chinese authorities, the number
of reliable survey-based studies of
politics in China by scholars based
abroad has grown considerably since
the late 1980s. Among such scholars,
Jie Chen has engaged in a cross-sectional
study: a set of representative sample
surveys of Beijing residents, conducted
in 1995, 1997 and 1999. The surveys
explore the distribution, sources
and consequences of political support,
an issue of clear relevance to our
understanding of regime stability
and Communist Party survival. ….Popular
Political Support in Urban China is
a thoroughly empirical study…..
The evidence is presented throughout
in a clear style that assumes the
reader has no prior knowledge of survey
methods, statistical inference, political
science….. This is undoubtedly
a strength.”
----The China Journal (No. 53, 2005:
pp. 191-192)
“It is sometimes assumed that
popular support for the current regime
in Beijing has fallen in recent years…
In Popular Political Support in Urban
China Jie Chen presents evidence both
supporting and challenging this view.
…Chen’s book contributes
to our understanding of popular attitudes
and reminds us that the Chinese Communist
Party continues to enjoy considerable
legitimacy. ... It is highly commended
to readers.”
---- China Review (Vol 4, No. 2,
2004: pp. 207-09)
“This bold book challenges
the assumptions and biases of mainstream
China scholars about popular support
for the regime among the urban population.
It concludes that the post-Tiananmen
Chinese Communist Party regime is
both “legitimate” and
viable, thanks to the high level of
urban support. ……A fascinating
study. ……Highly recommended.”
---- Choice (September 2004: p. 182)
“Do urban residents support
China’s current regime? Will
the regime be able to maintain power?
These questions are of interest not
only to China scholars, but also to
political scientists who study ideological
legitimacy, citizen’s values
and living conditions, and political
participation in non-democratic states.
Many studies address these issues,
but survey-based empirical studies
of communist societies, and China
in particular, are limited. Jie Chen’s
systematic analysis of data from surveys
conducted in Beijing in 1995, 1997,
and 1999, framed around questions
about the extent and form of legitimacy
and popular support the current government
enjoys, fills this gap. Along with
detailed and lucid analyses of his
statistical data, Chen addresses broad
and critical questions about the possible
demise of this non-democratic system
and Chinese Communist Party rule.
…… As such, this analysis
and data will be of interest to many
scholars and students of China.
---- Pacific Affairs (Vol. 77, No.
4, 2004: pp. 726-727)
