Social Conflict and Class Consciousness: A Study on Contemporary Chinese Social Conflict Issues

Author: Li Peilin et al
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The more people identify themselves as belonging to the upper class, the less they perceive class conflict between the present and the future; conversely, they believe the conflict will be severe. The primary factor determining people's subjective class identification is "the social status of their parents." The self-class identification of urban public shows a clear tendency to "downward shift," indicating that China is far from becoming a society dominated by a middle class. Currently, a new type of social contradiction and conflict is emerging in China's urban society, namely, social conflict caused by differences in social values. This book is the final outcome of the major project "Research on Internal Contradictions of Contemporary Chinese People" by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. This research spanned three years, involving questionnaire design and surveys, data organization, and analysis, which revealed some new social contradictions faced by Chinese society during the profound changes in the interest structure and social composition. It addresses key social issues such as what factors will influence the future social choices and orientations of the Chinese people, which focal issues various social forces in China will reorganize around, and what rules will govern this reorganization.