Peasant Resistance beyond the State: Peasant–NGO Interactions in Post Wenchuan Earthquake Reconstruction, China

Abstract

ABSTRACTStudies on peasant resistance in China have been typically associated with antagonistic actions against the state. This article examines a new form of peasant resistance nested in interactions between peasants and a non-governmental organization (NGO). Through the lens of a post-earthquake reconstruction programme in which peasants cannot be simply regarded as subordinates or a powerless group, it offers an alternative view on theories of ‘rightful resistance’ and ‘everyday forms of resistance’. With rural relations become more complex, the authors argue that contextually sensitive analyses which include multilateral interactions are needed for more in-depth understanding of diverse peasant resistance in contemporary China.