Market Transition and Social Stratification: American Sociologists Analyze China: American Sociologists Analyze China

Author: Bian Yanjie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-02-01
Features: The Reform and Opening-Up policy has brought about remarkable changes in China's economy and society, sparking in-depth discussions among overseas scholars on the relationship between market transition and social stratification. Since the 1980s, the American sociological community has conducted fruitful research on this topic, sparking a highly influential academic debate. This translated collection selects key research outcomes from this debate, presenting diverse perspectives and viewpoints to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the latest theories in this field. Market Transition and Social Stratification gathers analyses of Chinese society from the overseas sociological community. While the conclusions they draw may not be the most important, what is worth noting is their perspective and methodology for observing society. The book presents two entirely different views on social stratification. One is a qualitative class-based approach, and the other is a quantitative stratification approach. The former assumes that society exists in a state where some people possess resources while others do not; those who possess resources use their advantages to control those without resources, becoming the cause of social conflicts and contradictions. Conversely, the latter assumes that everyone in society possesses resources, with the only question being how much. Since the question is about quantity, Western sociology has determined its research to include two major aspects: First, how much resource possession qualifies as "upper class," "middle class," or "lower class." The subjectivity of these divisions is significant, but if there is a theoretical or policy framework as a criterion for evaluation, some divisions may be deemed better than others. Second, whether it is possible to possess more resources (i.e., upward mobility) and whether opportunities are distributed equally. A virtuous cycle of society is one where opportunities for upward mobility are more equal. So, how should China's social stratification system be studied according to which approach? This depends on our judgment of China's national conditions during the transition period. The correct judgment comes from a class analysis of society. Class analysis has two theoretical principles. , class is treated as a social category, which means viewing people as social beings, as individuals connected with others. According to Marxist theory, the most fundamental form of social connection is common labor. Engaging in common labor, each worker possesses the most basic resource, which is labor power. Although each worker has a certain amount of labor power, they may not be able to fully control it when working with others. There are three possibilities here: their labor power is controlled by others; their labor power is controlled by themselves; or their labor power is controlled by themselves while they also control others' labor power. How labor power is controlled is the fundamental basis for class division, because regardless of how far human society has developed, as long as people need common labor, the issue of labor power being controlled by others and controlling others' labor power will inevitably arise. Whether this form of class division leads to conflict, contradiction, and revolution, or promotes coordination, cooperation, and progress, will be an empirical question in different societies. What is the reality of China in the current transition period? This could be a very interesting research topic. Second, class is viewed as an economic category, meaning viewing people as economic beings, as individuals engaged in economic relations with others. According to Marxist theory, the most fundamental economic relationship between people is the relationship of property, particularly the ownership of means of production. Marx envisioned two major classes at the time: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, but the class structure in the contemporary economic system is likely far more complex than the two classes Marx divided. Classifying people based on economic property relations is a way to generalize the economic capacity of individuals to control, dominate, and enjoy the fruits of their labor, or under what conditions their labor outcomes are controlled by others.