This compelling book analyzes the rise of civil society and legal contentiousness in contemporary China. Scott Wilson examines how Chinese AIDS carriers and pollution victims pursue justice in Chinese courts and civil society. He traces the emergence of the AIDS and pollution crises in China as well as state and civil society responses to them, finding China’s state has reacted more favorably to pollution victims than AIDS carriers. Wilson’s detailed case studies provide important insights into the development of civil society, as well as highlight limitations to the pursuit of justice as the system balances between the development of rule of law and regime stability.
