The Cultural Logic of Politics in Mainland China and Taiwan [Hardcover]

This book uses surveys, statistics, and case studies to explain why and how cultural norms affect political attitudes and behavior.The Cultural Logic of Politics in Mainland China and Taiwan explains why and how cultural norms affect political attitudes and behavior, as well as how this normative realitycentered framework connects the findings of scholars of Asian politics with the mainstream literature in comparative politics. Using multiple surveys from mainland China and Taiwan, the book shows how cultural norms, independent of structural and institutional factors, significantly shape political trust, participation, and understanding of democracy.The Cultural Logic of Politics in Mainland China and Taiwan explains why and how cultural norms affect political attitudes and behavior, as well as how this normative realitycentered framework connects the findings of scholars of Asian politics with the mainstream literature in comparative politics. Using multiple surveys from mainland China and Taiwan, the book shows how cultural norms, independent of structural and institutional factors, significantly shape political trust, participation, and understanding of democracy.Tianjian Shi shows how cultural norms affect political attitudes and behavior through two causal pathways, one at the individual level and one at the community level. Focusing on two key norms  definition of self-interest and orientation to authority  he tests the theory with multiple surveys conducted in mainland China and Taiwan. Shi employs multi-level statistical analysis to show how, in these two very different political systems, similar norms exert similar kinds of influence on political trust, understanding of democracy, forms of political participation, and tolerance for protest. The approach helps to explain the resilience of authoritarian politics in China and the dissatisfaction of many Taiwan residents with democratic institutions. Aiming to place the study of political culture on alc