Tactical Escalation in Rural China

Petitioning is the archetypal form of rightful resistance. But what if a petition falls on deaf ears? Some long-time protesters, seeing few alternatives and too proud to accept defeat, have turned to three more direct forms of confrontation: publicizing policies, demanding dialogues, and face-to-face confrontations with local officials. Direct action signals a break with more mediated forms of resistance, since protest leaders, rather than reporting a policy violation, try to stop it by appealing to the community as much as to higher authorities. This "tactical escalation" is a consequence of shifting opportunities and a reminder that any assessment of whether opportunities have expanded or contracted depends on the tactics adopted.