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The work combines community social networks, social trust, community participation, community autonomy and Chinese democracy in a coherent framework for analyzing the present political conditions. The manuscript represents empirical evidence on the actual practices and outcomes of Chinese urban community construction based on extensive fieldwork in Nanjing China, and concludes that the Party-State has strong grassroots standing, which questions the applicability of liberal-democratic theory as it applies to China.

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Min Zhao (1982- ), is currently a lecturer in the School of Public Administration, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology. She received her Doctor´s degree from the University of Adelaide, Australia. Her research focuses on the development of urban community, social capital and public spirit during the process of Chinese urbanization.

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