Corruption and Accountability in China's Rural Poverty Governance: Main Features from Village and Township Cadres

Abstract

Corruption among village and township cadres is a serious problem in China’s governance of rural poverty. Based primarily on government websites, but also newspapers and interviews, the article analyzes categories, types and the degree of corruption as well as forms of accountability. The findings show that there is more corruption among village cadres than township cadres. The main form of corruption is embezzlement of poverty funds; there is more individual than group corruption; and political accountability is the most important form of accountability. Using an instrumental and a cultural approach, the characteristics of corruption and accountability among village and township cadres are explained. The conclusion is that, although the new anti-corruption policies and laws have been implemented, corruption among village and township cadres is still extensive and difficult to eliminate in the short term. Accountability also has some room for improvement.