Critically examining China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviation campaign, this book challenges the dominant narrative of a complete victory over poverty. Drawing on extensive fieldwork across multiple provinces, it examines how the Chinese state conceptualises and acts upon poverty as a technical, depoliticised issue, often through disruptive interventions such as mass resettlement. Drawing attention to the uncertain and enduring consequences of campaign-style governance, the book provides fresh insights into Chinese politics, development and political geography. It offers a different way of thinking about poor people and poor places in China, essential for researchers focused on poverty management and state power.
Sarah Rogers is Associate Professor of Contemporary Chinese Studies at The University of Melbourne.
Introduction: A Decisive and Complete Victory1. Techniques of Poverty2. Knowing Poverty3. Acting on Poverty4. Re-Politicising Poverty5. After PovertyConclusion
'Rogers employs an ironically underutilized political lens to deftly dissect Xi Jinping’s signature anti-poverty campaign, revealing its contradictions, limitations, and underlying misconceptions.' John Donaldson, Singapore Management University