Participation in Collective Action in China: Unfair Experience, Interests Involved, and Political Efficacy

We examined which factors promote Chinese citizens’ participation in collective action at the individual level. Using data from the 2010 China General Social Survey, we applied logistic regression analysis to explore the relationships between unfair experience, interests involved, political efficacy, and the likelihood of participation in collective action. Results showed that people who have experienced unfair treatment from the government are more likely than other people are to participate in collective action. If people think that collective action is closely related to their own interests, they are more likely to participate than are those who do not think so. Also, people with high internal political efficacy are more likely to participate in collective action than are those with low internal political efficacy. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.