Social conflict is the taboo of Chinese political discourse. With “an overriding need for stability” and “a harmonious society” as the official policy lines, the potential negative social and political impacts of social conflict make it a highly sensitive topic in China. Thus, for academics, the subject is a veritable mine field that most stay away from – resulting in a lack of in-depth and systematic research on social conflict in China. This is evidenced by the mainstream characterization of normal social conflict as pathological, and thought better to be covered up out of a concern over negative political consequences. Because social conflict is seen as a kind of social disease, its legitimacy is often denied and the interests and needs of the relevant social groups dismissed – particularly those disadvantaged groups that lie at the core of conflict in society.

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