Are People in Chinese Rural Areas Conscious of the Law, and What Are the Impacts?

Abstract

Contemporary society benefits from having a strong sense of the law because it makes it easier for people to live better in a society where the law is upheld. Without effective law enforcement, society may descend into anarchy, making it impossible to protect the rights and safety of its citizens. Yet many Chinese residents in rural regions do not have a basic understanding of the law. The first is that certain rural areas are economically underdeveloped due to their isolation and limited accessibility. As a result, it contributed to a certain extent to the clan system in rural regions, and a lack of knowledge led to some peoples dismissal of the law. The absence of courts is the final factor for poor infrastructure. It has been suggested that education be improved and more advertising in rural regions to increase legal publicity. Additionally, the government may arrange for additional volunteers to take part in legal assistance initiatives in remote regions, which would help to address the issue of a lack of attorneys. The government might potentially make improvements to an itinerant program that has been successful in some rural parts of China. However, these options have certain drawbacks, which will be discussed later.