"Today 700 million Chinese citizens--more than fifty-four percent of the population--live in cities. The mass migration of rural populations to urban centers increased rapidly following economic reforms of the 1990s, and serious problems such as overcrowding, lack of health services, and substandard housing have arisen in these areas since. China's urban citizens have taken to the courts for redress and fought battles over failed urban renewal projects, denial of civil rights, corruption, and abuse of power. [This book examines] four important legal cases that took place from 1995 to 2013 in the major cities of Wuhan, Xuzhou, Shanghai, and Chongqing. In these cases, citizens protested demolition of property, as well as corruption among city officials, developers, and landlords; but were repeatedly denied protection or compensation from the courts. [The authors] explore how new interest groups comprised of entrepreneurs and Chinese graduates of Western universities have collaborated with the CCP-controlled local governments to create new power bases in cities. Drawing on newly available official sources, private collections, and interviews with Chinese administrators, judges, litigants, petitioners, and legal experts, this interdisciplinary analysis reveals the powerful and privileged will most likely continue to exploit the legal asymmetry that exists between the courts and citizens."-- Back cover.

Introduction : power vs. law in Chinese history -- Urban war at the Yangzi River -- Waitan Garden : law, law enforcement, and lawyer -- Wuhan's showdown at the supreme court -- Xuzhou : a teacher vs. the powerful government -- Professor Wang's costly battle against local power -- Shanghai and Chongqing : the winner, loser, and prisoners -- Conclusion : the legal asymmetry.