Working the Government: Poverty Alleviation Resettlement in Two Yi Villages, Sichuan, China

1. Meaning of the Study

“Working the Government” refers to the strategies used by local communities to adapt to, manipulate, or creatively use government policies for their own benefit. In this context, it examines how villagers in two Yi ethnic minority villages in Sichuan province responded to China’s Poverty Alleviation Resettlement (PAR) program.

China introduced PAR as part of a national campaign to eliminate extreme poverty by relocating people living in remote or environmentally fragile areas to new settlements with better infrastructure and economic opportunities. These programs reorganize villagers’ lives, housing patterns, and economic activities under government planning.

The concept of “working the government” highlights that villagers were not passive recipients of policy. Instead, they actively negotiated, resisted, or creatively used resettlement policies to achieve their own goals while still appearing to comply with government expectations.

2. Introduction

Poverty has long been a major issue in rural China, particularly in mountainous and remote regions such as Sichuan province. Many ethnic minority communities, including the Yi people, live in areas with limited infrastructure, poor transportation, and scarce economic opportunities.

To address these challenges, the Chinese government launched large-scale poverty reduction initiatives. One major strategy was poverty alleviation resettlement, which involved relocating rural households to newly built villages with improved housing, roads, schools, and access to markets.

However, resettlement programs are not purely technical development projects. They also involve political power, social control, and cultural transformation. Government planning often attempts to reshape villagers’ lifestyles, values, and economic practices to align with national development goals.

This research explores how Yi villagers responded to these changes. Instead of simply resisting or accepting the program, villagers developed subtle tactics that allowed them to benefit from government resources while maintaining some autonomy. This strategy is referred to as “working the government.”

3. Advantages of Poverty Alleviation Resettlement

3.1 Improved Living Conditions

One of the main benefits of the resettlement program was the improvement in housing and infrastructure. Newly constructed settlements provided better homes, access to electricity, sanitation, and public facilities such as schools and clinics.

3.2 Better Economic Opportunities

Relocation closer to towns and markets enabled villagers to participate in new economic activities. Many households gained opportunities for wage labor, small businesses, or modern agriculture.

3.3 Access to Public Services

Resettlement sites often offered improved education, healthcare, and government support programs. These services helped increase overall quality of life and social mobility.

3.4 Poverty Reduction

The program aimed to lift households out of extreme poverty by providing resources and development opportunities. Government subsidies and housing programs significantly reduced the financial burden on rural families.

3.5 Infrastructure Development

New roads, transportation systems, and communication networks were built as part of resettlement initiatives, connecting previously isolated communities to the broader economy.

4. Disadvantages of the Resettlement Program

4.1 Cultural Disruption

Resettlement often disrupted traditional lifestyles of ethnic minority communities. Yi villagers had strong cultural ties to their ancestral land, which were weakened after relocation.

4.2 Loss of Traditional Livelihoods

Many villagers relied on mountain farming and livestock herding. Relocation sometimes limited access to land and natural resources necessary for these livelihoods.

4.3 Dependency on Government Support

Some households became dependent on government subsidies and assistance, reducing incentives for independent economic activity.

4.4 Social Fragmentation

Resettlement could disrupt existing social networks and community relationships. Families accustomed to traditional village structures sometimes struggled to adapt to new settlement patterns.

4.5 Increased Government Surveillance

Resettlement programs often involve close monitoring by local officials to ensure policy compliance. This increased government oversight in villagers’ daily lives.

5. Challenges in Implementing Resettlement

5.1 Balancing Development and Cultural Preservation

One of the major challenges is maintaining cultural traditions while promoting economic modernization.

5.2 Geographic and Environmental Constraints

Many Yi villages are located in mountainous regions with difficult terrain, making infrastructure development expensive and complex.

5.3 Economic Sustainability

While resettlement improves living conditions, long-term economic sustainability remains uncertain if employment opportunities are limited.

5.4 Policy Implementation Difficulties

Local governments must balance national targets for poverty reduction with the realities of rural communities. Pressure to meet political goals can sometimes lead to rushed or poorly planned projects.

5.5 Community Resistance

Some villagers resist relocation because of attachment to land, fear of uncertainty, or distrust of government programs.

6. In-Depth Analysis

6.1 Governmentality and State Power

The study uses the concept of governmentality, introduced by philosopher Michel Foucault. Governmentality refers to techniques through which governments shape the behavior and identity of populations.

In the resettlement program, the government attempts to transform villagers into modern, market-oriented citizens by reorganizing their environment and livelihood practices.

6.2 Micro-Politics of Resettlement

The research conducted fieldwork in two Yi villages in Sichuan, interviewing villagers, local officials, and government administrators. These interactions revealed the micro-politics of power between the state and local communities.

Instead of direct confrontation, villagers often used subtle strategies to negotiate with authorities.

6.3 The Strategy of “Working the Government”

Villagers developed creative tactics that allowed them to benefit from resettlement programs without fully adopting the identities imposed by the state.

Examples include:

• Using government subsidies while continuing traditional livelihoods.

• Complying with official rules publicly but adapting them privately.

• Exploiting policy loopholes to gain additional resources.

These strategies allowed villagers to maintain a degree of autonomy while still receiving government support.

6.4 Everyday Resistance

The study highlights that resistance does not always appear as open protest. Instead, it may occur through everyday practices such as negotiation, adaptation, or selective compliance.

This form of resistance demonstrates that rural communities actively shape the outcomes of government policies rather than simply being controlled by them.

6.5 Implications for Development Policy

The concept of “working the government” suggests that development programs must consider local agency and community dynamics. Policies designed without understanding local culture and social structures may produce unintended consequences.

7. Conclusion

The poverty alleviation resettlement program in Sichuan represents a major effort by the Chinese government to reduce rural poverty and improve living conditions. While the program has brought significant benefits such as improved housing, infrastructure, and economic opportunities, it also raises important social and cultural challenges.

The study shows that villagers are not passive recipients of state policies. Instead, they actively engage with government programs, using creative strategies to adapt policies to their own needs. The concept of “working the government” highlights the complex relationship between state power and local agency in development initiatives.

Understanding these dynamics is essential for designing policies that genuinely improve livelihoods while respecting local cultures and community autonomy.

8. Summary

“Working the Government” examines how Yi villagers in Sichuan responded to China’s poverty alleviation resettlement program. The study reveals that resettlement is not only a development initiative but also a process involving power, governance, and social transformation. While the program improves living conditions and reduces poverty, it also disrupts traditional lifestyles and increases government control. Rather than simply accepting or resisting the policy, villagers developed creative strategies to adapt and benefit from it. This phenomenon, described as “working the government,” demonstrates how local communities negotiate with state power to protect their interests while participating in development programs.