This book explores the accountability paradox in the Chinese bureaucracy. The purpose of accountability is to foster compliance and responsiveness among bureaucrats, but instead, it causes bureaucrats’ coping tactics, blame-avoiding strategies, and defensive behavior, which constitutes a paradox or pathology of accountability. The accountability paradox is well documented in Western countries, but scarce attention has been paid to the accountability system in the Chinese context. It appears that the accountability paradox is also present in the Chinese context since a series of major transformations were initiated to overhaul the accountability system in China following the 18th National Party Congress in 2012, but exhibits characteristics that are unique to China. In a tightly argued book driven by comprehensive interviews and survey investigations, Dr. Tu sheds light on a subject of interest to sinologists, political scientists, and journalists.

Wenyan Tu is assistant professor of the Institute for Global Public Policy, Fudan University, China. Her research interests cover corruption studies, public accountability, and bureaucratic incentives. She has published in journals such as Public Management Review, Government Information Quarterly, China Quarterly, China Review, Public Personnel Management, and Administration & Society.