This book discusses one of the most noticeable and significant transformations in China over the past three decades is the rapid and massive urbanization of the country, which has brought shifts in political culture of Chinese urbanites. This book is a systematic and empirical study of political culture in urban China. The book covers various aspects of political culture such as political regime support, political interest, democratic values, political trust, and environmental attitudes and sub-political culture of Chinese urban Christians. This book will be of immense value to urban scholars, sinologists, and those wishing to get a closer look at the issues that affect the political future of a rising world power.

Metamaterials: Beyond Crystals, Noncrystals, and Quasicrystals is a comprehensive and updated research monograph that focuses on recent advances in metamaterials based on the effective medium theory in microwave frequencies. Most of these procedures were conducted in the State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves, Southeast University, China. The book conveys the essential concept of metamaterials from the microcosmic structure to the macroscopic electromagnetic properties and helps readers quickly obtain needed skills in creating new devices at microwave frequencies using metamaterials. The authors present the latest progress on metamaterials and transformation optics and provide abundant examples of metamaterial-based devices accompanied with detailed procedures to simulate, fabricate, and measure them. Comprised of ten chapters, the book comprehensively covers both the fundamentals and the applications of metamaterials. Along with an introduction to the subject, the first three chapters discuss effective medium theory and artificial particles. The next three chapters cover homogeneous metamaterials (super crystals), random metamaterials (super noncrystals), and inhomogeneous metamaterials (super quasicrystals). The final four chapters examine gradient-index inhomogeneous metamaterials, nearly isotropic inhomogeneous metamaterials, and anisotropic inhomogeneous metamaterials, after which the authors provide their conclusions and closing remarks. The book is completely self-contained, making it easy to follow.

Despite China's rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, most Chinese still live in the vast countryside or have rural household registration. Although there was significant economic improvement in rural areas in the 1980s, the rural economy has been stagnating or deteriorating since then, and the book argues that the rural-urban income gap is giving rise to the potential for political instability throughout China. This book, based on extensive original research including interview fieldwork in rural areas, examines the nature of political culture and participation in rural China, discussing issues such as the support, or lack of it, for democratic values; levels of political interest; the ways in which Chinese peasants interact with village and local officials; subjective factors that motivate them to vote, (or not to vote) in village elections; and rural people's views on market-oriented economic reforms, local and national government, and the Communist Party. The book argues that although hitherto peasants? riots, sit-ins and demonstrations have been localised and uncoordinated, they are frequent, and have the potential to cause serious political crises for China's rulers. It concludes by considering the future political development of China's vast countryside.

After over a decade of administrative and economic reform in mainland China, the center has become increasingly remote and less important for many localities. In many ways, the mobilization capacity of the central government has been weakened. Central government policies are often ignored and local officials are often more interested in personal projects than in centrally directed economic plans. In this study of local government and politics in China, the author explores when and why local government officials comply with policy directives from above. Drawing on interviews with government officials in various municipalities and a review of county records and other government documents, he provides the first in-depth look at policy implementation at the county and township levels in the PRC. The book examines the impact of the Chinese cadre system on the behavior of local officials, local party and government structure, relationships among various levels of Chinese local government, policy supervision mechanisms at local levels, village governance of China, and more.

After over a decade of administrative and economic reform in mainland China, the center has become increasingly remote and less important for many localities. In many ways, the mobilization capacity of the central government has been weakened. Central government policies are often ignored and local officials are often more interested in personal projects than in centrally directed economic plans. In this study of local government and politics in China, the author explores when and why local government officials comply with policy directives from above. Drawing on interviews with government officials in various municipalities and a review of county records and other government documents, he provides the first in-depth look at policy implementation at the county and township levels in the PRC. The book examines the impact of the Chinese cadre system on the behavior of local officials, local party and government structure, relationships among various levels of Chinese local government, policy supervision mechanisms at local levels, village governance of China, and more.

Interpreting U.S.- China-Taiwan Relations presents an up-to-date, multidisciplinary approach to this often troublesome relationship through essays written by experts in the fields of political science, economics, military science, history and communications. It begins with a focus on the relationship between the U.S. and China as China presses forward with new development while the United States encourages a balance of power in East Asia. It evaluates the successes and failures of the relationship and the forces behind the stands that they take that feed the stress of the relationship. The second group of essays deals with the relationship between China and Taiwan. They examine the recent changes and tentativeness surrounding the situation caused by the death of Deng Xiaoping and the social and economic problems of China, yet communicate a tremendous optimism that a breakthrough will occur in the future. The final essays explore the evolution of China's perceptions of its international environment as it begins to understand and respond to external circumstances better and more positively.

Despite China's rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, most Chinese still live in the vast countryside or have rural household registration. Although there was significant economic improvement in rural areas in the 1980s, the rural economy has been stagnating or deteriorating since then, and the book argues that the rural-urban income gap is giving rise to the potential for political instability throughout China. This book, based on extensive original research including interview fieldwork in rural areas, examines the nature of political culture and participation in rural China, discussing issues such as the support, or lack of it, for democratic values; levels of political interest; the ways in which Chinese peasants interact with village and local officials; subjective factors that motivate them to vote, (or not to vote) in village elections; and rural people's views on market-oriented economic reforms, local and national government, and the Communist Party. The book argues that although hitherto peasants' riots, sit-ins and demonstrations have been localised and uncoordinated, they are frequent, and have the potential to cause serious political crises for China's rulers. It concludes by considering the future political development of China's vast countryside.

This book discusses one of the most noticeable and significant transformations in China over the past three decades is the rapid and massive urbanization of the country, which has brought shifts in political culture of Chinese urbanites. This book is a systematic and empirical study of political culture in urban China. The book covers various aspects of political culture such as political regime support, political interest, democratic values, political trust, and environmental attitudes and sub-political culture of Chinese urban Christians. This book will be of immense value to urban scholars, sinologists, and those wishing to get a closer look at the issues that affect the political future of a rising world power.

One of the most significant global events in the last forty years has been the rise of China— economically, technologically, politically, and militarily. The question on people's minds for decades has been whether China will replace the United States as a superpower in the near future. But for China, this power must be comprehensive — having strong economic and militant forces are only two pieces of the puzzle. China must also possess soft power, such as attractive ideologies, values, and culture. China as Number One? explores China’s soft powers through the eyes of Chinese citizens. Utilizing data from the World Values Survey, the contributors to this collection explore the potential soft power of a rising China by examining its residents' social values. A comprehensive study of changes and continuities in the political and social values of Chinese citizens, the book examines findings in the context of evolutionary modernization theory and cross-national comparison.

One of the most significant global events in the last forty years has been the rise of China— economically, technologically, politically, and militarily. The question on people's minds for decades has been whether China will replace the United States as a superpower in the near future. But for China, this power must be comprehensive — having strong economic and militant forces are only two pieces of the puzzle. China must also possess soft power, such as attractive ideologies, values, and culture. China as Number One? explores China’s soft powers through the eyes of Chinese citizens. Utilizing data from the World Values Survey, the contributors to this collection explore the potential soft power of a rising China by examining its residents' social values. A comprehensive study of changes and continuities in the political and social values of Chinese citizens, the book examines findings in the context of evolutionary modernization theory and cross-national comparison.

Metamaterials: Beyond Crystals, Noncrystals, and Quasicrystals is a comprehensive and updated research monograph that focuses on recent advances in metamaterials based on the effective medium theory in microwave frequencies. Most of these procedures were conducted in the State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves, Southeast University, China. The book conveys the essential concept of metamaterials from the microcosmic structure to the macroscopic electromagnetic properties and helps readers quickly obtain needed skills in creating new devices at microwave frequencies using metamaterials. The authors present the latest progress on metamaterials and transformation optics and provide abundant examples of metamaterial-based devices accompanied with detailed procedures to simulate, fabricate, and measure them. Comprised of ten chapters, the book comprehensively covers both the fundamentals and the applications of metamaterials. Along with an introduction to the subject, the first three chapters discuss effective medium theory and artificial particles. The next three chapters cover homogeneous metamaterials (super crystals), random metamaterials (super noncrystals), and inhomogeneous metamaterials (super quasicrystals). The final four chapters examine gradient-index inhomogeneous metamaterials, nearly isotropic inhomogeneous metamaterials, and anisotropic inhomogeneous metamaterials, after which the authors provide their conclusions and closing remarks. The book is completely self-contained, making it easy to follow.