Chinese Farmers and Chinese Modernization

Author: Sun Jin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: Everyone is talking about the "Three Rural Issues" (agriculture, rural areas, and farmers), and governments at all levels attach great importance to them. It can be said that the work surrounding the "Three Rural Issues" is indeed the top priority of China's modernization. This situation indicates that the "Three Rural Issues" are not an isolated phenomenon, or that discussing them in isolation cannot truly grasp their essence. Relying solely on the "Three Rural Issues" themselves is also difficult to solve this problem. This series of books proposes various new insights and methods in response to this current situation. Broadly speaking, these "new" aspects are reflected in the following aspects.
First, why does China have the "Three Rural Issues"? In other words, how did agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, as natural and social entities, become "problems," and what is their true meaning.
Second, in what sense can this problem be considered "solved"? Since agriculture, rural areas, and farmers always exist, they should no longer be problems. Therefore, how to approach this "solution" is where the significance of expanding thinking and innovative methods lies.
Third, if discussing the "Three Rural Issues" in isolation is not feasible, what reference should be chosen to reasonably and effectively address them? For example, how are approaches like coordinating urban-rural economic and social development, adjusting the proportion structure of agriculture, light industry, and heavy industry, as well as tax and fee reforms and reducing farmers' burdens, carried out based on what principles and logic?
Fourth, how can specific measures achieve both root and branch solutions, or ensure the coordination of immediate interests, phased goals, and sustainable development.
Fifth, if the "Three Rural Issues" are unique to China's modernization or a special challenge, how should the solution (or loss of significance) of this problem be addressed and utilized its "external" factors, such as international politics and economics, international trade and markets, human environment, and value orientations, and so on.