← Back to Concept Index
informal-power-structures
The narrative emphasizes how clans function as informal power structures that enforce protection and social order where formal legal systems fail.
1 chapter across 1 book
Waste Tide (2013)Chen Qiufan
Chapter 2
In Chapter 2 of Waste Tide, Chen Kaizong revisits Silicon Isle and confronts the stark contrast between his nostalgic memories and the current harsh realities shaped by environmental degradation and clan politics. Through his interaction with his relative Chen Xianyun, the chapter explores the persistence of the clan system as a source of security and power amid weak formal legal structures. The chapter also highlights cultural tensions and the complexities of modernization in a fragmented society.