The author finds "collective democracy" as practiced in the People's Republic of China a departure from the Western norm. It does not purport to enhance individual human rights; rather, it aims at preserving and promoting a sense of community so that no one will be neglected in the process of political development and social reform and that there will be no self-centered boundaries separating members within the society. The book allows readers to appreciate and to develop a deeper understanding of legal and political reforms being undertaken inside China.
Chih-yu Shih teaches Chinese politics, political psychology, and postcolonial feminism at National Taiwan University. He is author of The Spirit of Chinese Foreign Policy, State and Society in China's Political Economy, and Symbolic War.