Access to Justice for the Chinese Consumer: Handling Consumer Disputes in Contemporary China

by Ling Zhou

Overview

This book offers a socio-legal exploration of localised consumer complaint processing and dispute resolution in the People's Republic of China – now the second largest consumer market in the world – and the experiences of both ordinary and 'professional' consumers.

Drawing on detailed analysis of an impressive body of empirical data, this book highlights local Chinese understandings and practice styles of 'mediation', and identifies in popular consciousness a continuing sense of reliance on the government for securing consumer rights in China. These are not only important features of consumer dispute processing in themselves, but also help to to explain why no ombudsman system has emerged.

This innovative book looks at the nature of China's distinctive dispute resolution and complaints system, issues within that system, and the experiences of consumers within it. The book illustrates the access to justice processes locally available to aggrieved consumers and provides a unique contribution to comparative consumer law studies in Asia and elsewhere.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781509931071
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	05/14/2020
Series:	Civil Justice Systems
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Ling Zhou is Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, UK.
Ling Zhou is Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, UK. She can be contacted at [e-mail].

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
I. Introduction
II. The Market, State and Consumer Law
III. Consumers and Access to Justice
IV. Fieldwork and Research Methods
V. Structure of the Book
2. Consumer Protection in China
I. Introduction
II. The Chinese Context
III. The Consumer as Citizen in China
IV. A Brief Introduction to the Field
V. Conclusions
3. Extra-Judicial Processes for Handling Consumer Disputes
I. Introduction
II. Consumer Bodies and the Complaint System in Shenzhen
III. Dispute Processes in the SZCC
IV. Conclusions
4. Consuming the Consumer Council: Complainants' Experience
I. Introduction
II. Case Study of On-site Mediation
III. Different Types of Complainant
IV. Problems Faced by Consumers in the Complaint Process
V. Conclusions
5. The 'Professional' in Consumer Disputes
I. Introduction
II. The 'Professionals' in Consumer Dispute Processes
III. Mixed Motives
IV. Official Attitudes
V. Conclusion: Professional Legal Culture and the Consumer Citizen
6. Consuming Litigation: Going to Court
I. Introduction
II. The People's Courts in China
III. Consumer Disputes in the Shenzhen Court
IV. The Professionals and the Court
V. Conclusions
7. Going 'Public': New Approaches in Resolving Consumer Disputes
I. Introduction
II. Consumer Redress and the Media
III. Web-Based Consumer Complaint Platform
IV. Access to Knowledge: Disclosure of Government Information
V. The Emerging Public Interest Litigation in Consumer Disputes
VI. Conclusions
8. Conclusions
I. Dispute Resolution in China
II. Consumers' Access to Justice
III. Delegalisation and Justice
IV. Consumers' Access to Justice in China: Final Reflections