A Spark in the Smokestacks

By offering a textured account of the way space enables civic life to flourish in China, this beautiful book urgently reminds us that even in nondemocratic contexts, people can do great things when they join together to put their hands on the levers of change. -- Hahrie Han, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Professor of Political Science, Inaugural Director, SNF Agora Institute, Johns Hopkins University By systematically examining the intersection of environmental activism and the development of middle-class communities in China, A Spark in the Smokestacks offers fresh evidence and original insights on a very important topic. Lin’s extensive and systematic comparative analysis and prolonged fieldwork have produced rich empirical evidence and in-depth analysis. This book will be a welcome and valuable addition to the fields of China studies and contentious politics. -- Xi Chen, author of <i>Social Protest and Contentious Authoritarianism in China</i> Transcending conventional depictions of environmental justice politics, A Spark in the Smokestacks provides a rich and compelling portrait of how three communities in Beijing were able to mobilize their civic capacity to fight environmental harms. Jean Lin’s impressive study deserves broad attention in sociology, political science environmental studies, and beyond. -- Edward T. Walker, author of <i>Grassroots for Hire: Public Affairs Consultants in American Democracy</i>