The Role of Tunqin Guanxi in Building Rural Resilience in North China: A Case from Qinggang

Authors
Gao, Y 

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Type
Article
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Abstract

This paper explores the role of guanxi, particularly in its special form of tunqin, in building rural resilience in a poverty-stricken county in north China. The emphasis of this paper is placed on the nature and function of such guanxi. By presenting how guanxi is maintained, this paper also analyses the impact and effectiveness of local guanxi as a strategy to cope with poverty. Whereas tunqin guanxi appears to have built rural resilience in order to cushion villagers against life's upheavals, the maintenance of rural guanxi diminishes this resilience as scarce resources are spent on the exchange of cash gifts, thus aggravating local poverty.

Publication Date
2017-03-01
Online Publication Date
2017-02-06
Acceptance Date
2016-03-23
Keywords
guanxi, tunqin, rural poverty, north China, rural resilience, cash gift exchange
Journal Title
China Quarterly
Journal ISSN
0305-7410
1468-2648
Volume Title
229
Publisher
Cambridge University Press