Becoming Urban: The Political Consequences of Urban Citizenship in China

• In Event: Political Attitudes and Citizenship in Greater China

Abstract

The expansion of equal citizenship and the introduction of inclusive social policies within authoritarian regimes raise intricate questions regarding their political ramifications. Historically, China’s dualistic household registration system has bestowed various state-sponsored benefits upon urban citizens while excluding rural citizens. Beginning in 2010, however, reforms in several cities have relaxed these restrictions, granting urban status and concomitant entitlements to certain rural populations, and thereby impacting millions of once-marginalized floating populations, such as rural workers. Utilizing a multi-wave, nationally representative panel dataset at the individual level, this study investigates the quasi-experimental consequences of obtaining urban citizenship on individuals' political participation and orientation in China. The analysis delineates a nuanced understanding of the intricate relationship between evolving citizenship rights and political behavior, illuminating the broader dynamics of urbanization’s mass politics in authoritarian settings.

Authors

• Yanjun Liu, Peking University

• Liwei Zhou, Peking University School of Government