The Arab Spring and Jasmine Revolutions in the Middle East and Northern Africa led to considerable hope for some people that China would experience a similar political uprising and considerable anxiety for the ruling regime. While there are a number of significant differences between China and MENA countries, there are all also enough commonalities to justify concerns about political instability. Whether China will ultimately be able to avoid the fate of authoritarian regimes in MENA countries will turn on its ability to overcome a series of structural challenges. This article examines the conflict between the rising pressure for social justice and the ability of China’s legal institutions to satisfy them.