Positive Function of Social Conflict: Decoding State–Church Interaction in China
Conflict between local state and churches in China has increased both in number and intensity in recent years due to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) tightened regulation and control over religious affairs and religious groups. Drawing on the theoretical insight of the positive function of social...
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| Language: | English |
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World Scientific Publishing
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Chinese Journal of International Review |
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| Online Access: | https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S263053132350004X |
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| author | Jieren Hu Lanyu Zhang |
| author_facet | Jieren Hu Lanyu Zhang |
| author_sort | Jieren Hu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Conflict between local state and churches in China has increased both in number and intensity in recent years due to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) tightened regulation and control over religious affairs and religious groups. Drawing on the theoretical insight of the positive function of social conflict proposed by Coser and the empirical findings in China, this paper tries to decode the impact of China’s religious policies on state–church interaction under Xi Jinping’s rule. It finds that the overall impacts of state intensified control over religions are twofold. On the one hand, state intervention paradoxically serves as a facilitating factor to enhance religious group’s internal cohesion, reinforce their group identity and help them reflect on and change their survival and development strategies. On the other hand, increased state control at the same time generates an unpleasant outcome that is not beneficial for a peaceful state–church interaction. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd376d3a3f0f4c4fa5ba16bb0fe6fd04 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2630-5313 2630-5321 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | World Scientific Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Chinese Journal of International Review |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd376d3a3f0f4c4fa5ba16bb0fe6fd042025-08-20T02:23:51ZengWorld Scientific PublishingChinese Journal of International Review2630-53132630-53212023-06-01050110.1142/S263053132350004XPositive Function of Social Conflict: Decoding State–Church Interaction in ChinaJieren Hu0Lanyu Zhang1Law School at Hangzhou City University, RM 322, Law School, No. 1 Bldg. of Humanities, North Campus, No. 51, Huzhou Street, Gongshu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. ChinaLaw School at Tongji University, No. 1239, Siping Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, P. R. ChinaConflict between local state and churches in China has increased both in number and intensity in recent years due to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) tightened regulation and control over religious affairs and religious groups. Drawing on the theoretical insight of the positive function of social conflict proposed by Coser and the empirical findings in China, this paper tries to decode the impact of China’s religious policies on state–church interaction under Xi Jinping’s rule. It finds that the overall impacts of state intensified control over religions are twofold. On the one hand, state intervention paradoxically serves as a facilitating factor to enhance religious group’s internal cohesion, reinforce their group identity and help them reflect on and change their survival and development strategies. On the other hand, increased state control at the same time generates an unpleasant outcome that is not beneficial for a peaceful state–church interaction.https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S263053132350004XState–church interactionreligious conflictpositive function of conflictstate controlChina |
| spellingShingle | Jieren Hu Lanyu Zhang Positive Function of Social Conflict: Decoding State–Church Interaction in China Chinese Journal of International Review State–church interaction religious conflict positive function of conflict state control China |
| title | Positive Function of Social Conflict: Decoding State–Church Interaction in China |
| title_full | Positive Function of Social Conflict: Decoding State–Church Interaction in China |
| title_fullStr | Positive Function of Social Conflict: Decoding State–Church Interaction in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Positive Function of Social Conflict: Decoding State–Church Interaction in China |
| title_short | Positive Function of Social Conflict: Decoding State–Church Interaction in China |
| title_sort | positive function of social conflict decoding state church interaction in china |
| topic | State–church interaction religious conflict positive function of conflict state control China |
| url | https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S263053132350004X |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jierenhu positivefunctionofsocialconflictdecodingstatechurchinteractioninchina AT lanyuzhang positivefunctionofsocialconflictdecodingstatechurchinteractioninchina |