China's Contained Resource Curse: How Minerals Shape State-Capital-Labor Relations

China is a country rich in mineral resources, but is often overlooked in research about the resource curse. This study is the first full-length to examine the effects of mineral resources on the state, capital, and labor in China, and how they interact. It reveals the Chinese state's strategies to contain the resource curse and highlights some pitfalls of the China model.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 235 pages
Publication date: 25 January 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

As a nation endowed with abundant mineral resources, contemporary China remains surprisingly underrepresented in the research surrounding the much-debated resource curse. This groundbreaking study stands as the first comprehensive exploration of the unique impacts of mineral resources on the state, capital, and labor, as well as their intricate interplay in China. Drawing upon a wealth of empirical evidence, both qualitative and quantitative, Jing Vivian Zhan delves into the intricate dynamics at play. Employing a subnational approach, she zooms in on local contexts, showcasing how mineral resources shape local governance, economic development, and human well-being. This study further sheds light on mining industries, characterizing them as pro-capital and anti-labour, while also emphasizing the redistributive roles that the state can undertake to address imbalances. It uncovers the Chinese state's strategies to mitigate the resource curse and identifies potential pitfalls of the China model, offering valuable policy insights for China and other resource-rich countries.

ISBN-13: 9781009048989