'This book can be highly recommended as a major contribution to political science that sheds new light on the relations between state and society in China and raises key questions regarding the evolution and mode of functioning of the regime.' China Perspectives
'The topic of this succinct and readable book is an important one … Organized like an episode of collective action, the book works its way from origins to dynamics to consequences. These supply neat and useful conceptual frames not only for this particular book but also for the study of Chinese popular contention.' Journal of Chinese Political Science
'… clearly-written and a highly engaging read' Political Studies Review
'This book is a major contribution to the growing literature on political development in China. It is focused and clearly written, and readers can easily follow where the engaging empirical examples fit into the literature and theoretical framework. I highly recommend it to scholars and students (graduates and undergraduates) who are interested in social movement theory and political protest in China, and its findings should appeal to many others both within and beyond the China field.' Journal of Asian Studies
'This book stands out from the others in this subfield. … O'Brien and Li's theoretical pursuit is anchored to solid empirical investigations … the book is thorough and informative … [it is] remarkable in many ways. It is small and accessible, but also rich and sophisticated. … a must-read for anyone who is interested in understanding state-society relations and political change in China.' The China Journal