The current understanding of the roles of township cadres is anything but clear. This qualitative research, a case study of Tang Town in Hunan Province, describes and analyzes the role-related behaviors of township cadres in the perspective of role theories. Township carders in different categories occupy different roles, characterized by the existence of both role-overload and role-underload as well both duty-called behaviors and broker/agent-like activities. It is recommended that introducing role typology will probably give us a better understanding of the differences in the role-related behaviors of township cadres. The role dilemma faced by township cadres has led to role gaps and a situation of role weakening. The concept of “role-swamp” is proposed to be analyzed in conjunction with two measures to control it: role weakening and threshold resetting.
