Guanxi, How China Works [Paperback]

How do social relations, or guanxi, matter in China today and how can this distinctive form of personal connection be better understood? In Guanxi: How China Works, Yanjie Bian analyzes the forms, dynamics, and impacts of guanxi relations in reform-era China, and shows them to be a crucial part of the puzzle of how Chinese society operates.

Rich in original studies and insightful analyses, this concise book offers a critical synthesis of guanxi research, including its empirical controversies and theoretical debates. Bian skillfully illustrates the growing importance of guanxi in diverse areas such as personal network building, employment and labor markets, informal business relationships, and the broader political sphere, highlighting guanxi’s central value in China's contemporary social structure.

A definitive statement on the topic from a top authority on the sociology of guanxi, this book is an excellent classroom introduction for courses on China, a useful reference for guanxi researchers, and ideal reading for anyone interested in Chinese culture and society.

Map x

Chronology xi

Preface xiv

1 What is Guanxi? 1

Guanxi in Everyday Chinese Life 2

Guanxi as Local Knowledge 7

Theoretical Models of Guanxi in the Social Sciences 12

A SNA Approach toward Guanxi 19

Guanxi as Resource Mobilizer: A Concluding Note 25

2 Guanxi and Network Building 28

Guanxi Interaction as an Everyday Phenomenon 28

Guanxi Cultivation and Expansion through Bl½