Access to Justice for the Chinese Consumer

Ling Zhou is Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, UK.

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