Chinese Unit Society: Discussion, Reflection, and Research

Author: Li Hanlin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: As far as the current understanding goes, the unit system may be a social phenomenon unique to China. For many ordinary Chinese people, the unit is not simply a "workplace"; rather, it represents a chosen way of life, a form of reliance and support. In essence, the unit reflects a system, a form of governance, and a unique social structure in China. By observing Chinese society through the lens of the unit system, it may provoke further reflection and potentially drive deeper innovation and transformation in our organizations and institutions. The 20th-century Chinese society was predominantly characterized by the unit system. In this system, people were familiar with each other, knew one another well, and lived together day in and day out, influencing and relying on each other. It was a "society without strangers." Here, the life within the unit system became the norm of social life, the norm of social behavior. Previous studies on the unit system emphasized its role as an important organizational form. Through years of reflection and empirical research, the author of this book has proposed the idea of the unit as a system and structure. The author explores the mechanisms of social control in the Chinese unit society from a macro perspective; analyzes the social processes and consequences of power, resources, and interdependence within unit organizations from a meso perspective; and focuses on the behavioral tendencies and characteristics of individuals in the unit system from a micro perspective. In summary, the unit does not merely mean a "workplace"; rather, it represents a chosen way of life, a form of reliance and support.