Translation Results Requested Through Conyac Made Public

The township, the Party branch, and an array of social forces constitute the local
power configuration in which village committees are embedded. We have
underscored the independent effect of each of these factors, but they can also work
together to impede democratic governance. Strong clan ties combined with a
powerful criminal sector can contribute to conflicts between a Party branch and a
village committee; Party cadres, after losing a village committee election, may
turn to township allies or the underworld to maintain their position as top person in
the village. Improved electoral procedures have enhanced access to power, but
elected cadres cannot escape the broader political and social context in which they
operate