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Contemporary China
China's rapid economic growth, modernization and globalization have led to astounding social changes. Contemporary China provides a fascinating portrayal of society and social change in the contemporary People's Republic of China. This book introduces readers to key sociological perspectives, themes and debates about Chinese society. It explores topics such as family life, citizenship, gender, ethnicity, labour, religion, education, class and rural/urban inequalities. It considers China's imperial past, the social and institutional legacies of the Maoist era, and the momentous forces shaping it in the present. It also emphasises diversity and multiplicity, encouraging readers to consider new perspectives and rethink Western stereotypes about China and its people. Real-life case studies illustrate the key features of social relations and change in China. Definitions of key terms, discussion questions and lists of further reading help consolidate learning. Including full-colour maps and photographs, this book offers remarkable insight into Chinese society and social change.
- GenresChinaNonfiction
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2013
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49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 24, 2016
China is a complicated topic and often one of the trending topics in US news reports, and yet Americans know so little about China, its history, or where China stands now.¹ A diverse number of histories, ethnicities, languages, economic systems, and politics makes covering contemporary China rather difficult. The least Americans probably know is that China is a single-party state and that China is where most of our products are now made. Contemporary China: Society and Social Change by Tamara Jacka, Andrew B. Kipnis, and Sally Sargeson, all from the Australian National University, rights this by forming a sociohistory for a Western audience (Cambridge University Press, 2013).
Despite its length, the book is very dense, compacting a lot of information into tightly written essays with very good documentation of sources. At twenty-two pages, I believe this is the longest introduction I have ever read, but it is completely justified and historically accurate. Semi-accessible to advanced readers and absent of heavier sociological theory terms that allows a non-sociology major to read easier, though the work is still obviously rooted in sociology. When sociological terms are used, most are explained, and the book also includes a key to Chinese terms.
Not only for those interested in sociology, but also plenty to appeal to those interested in history and economics, by using a variety of sources from Chinese and Western researchers and from a variety of specialities ranging from anthropology, sociology, history, economics, and writers. These perspectives show historical Chinese patterns of living within a now mixed-economy and also contrasts modern China with other societies. Additionally, this allows the work to present alternative views and criticisms and the authors’ note when there is very little data available to thoroughly examine problems or where data or opinions contradict (246, 247, 248, 258). The greatest thing about this work is it provides solid, neutral examinations without sacrificing the positives and negatives. To be sure, any society has its ups and downs, and the authors do not skirt around negative issues, such as the “forced detention of [rural] migrants” in cities, and an execution of an environmental activist (77, 270). In essence, it is a balanced and fair work.
Highly recommended to history majors for the sociohistory and invaluable to anyone looking to work or do business in China or study its economics. Chapter 3, “Work,” is a concise but highly dense analysis of recent regulations and trends affecting employment, and despite regulations and laws to improve conditions, the picture is still not pretty. Business people and economists should also read Chapter 10, “Social Class and Stratification,” and Chapter 11, “Regional, Rural-Urban and Within-community Inequalities,” for additional socioeconomic insight. This book is also good for anyone interested in serious travelling through China if you want want a more rounded and deeper picture than the usual offerings in travel guides.
Contemporary China was published in 2013, and within a year the hukou residence registration system was revamped state-wide—instead of previously somewhat left up to local jurisdictions to judge and grant registration.² Even though this is a recent publication, this shows how fast things can change, and even with the change, the discussion on hukou in this book is sociohistorically valuable. What is interesting about the hukou system historically, that despite a post-dynastic, single China—in contrast to the domains of warlords and emperors in the past—the use of locality in determining social status and citizenship was and is still very much prevalent. Although that is changing as the articles footnoted point out, based on Chinese protests over their “legal rights” (79).
So how different is modern China from historical China? This work also explores that and I find it is not that different. Neo-Confucianism is still alive today. Literary masculinity, scholars, morals, and exams are still primary, with the education system seen as proving one’s morals and suzhi (quality), and also still giving average people a chance to success as it did historically (166, 168, 173, 175). Additionally, the divide of rural-urban and woman-man is still strong, although quickly changing. The previously mentioned hukou system was the main source of the rural-urban divide, with rural peoples looked down on by urbanites as a lower class, and with many rural people going to great lengths to hide their origins (66).
We also find that China is not all the same ethnicity. With 56 official ethnicities, one of which, Han, typically lumped as “Chinese,” is in itself consisting of multiple ethnicities and cultures (147, 148). Besides the discussion of broader categories and mainstream social roles, the authors take care to present regional, ethnic, and community variations within the larger group and also explore traditionally underrepresented groups where data is available, such as the LGBT community, the poor, and sex workers. Contemporary China shows that China is not homogenous and is rapidly changing. Youth culture is discussed along with the impact of the Internet and foreign culture exposures. China has relaxed into a mixed state-controlled/capitalist economy, creating two different worlds to have employment in. More changes may even come about as the younger individualistic generation grows older along with internal and international modern economic and social pressures (184, 193).
Overall, this is an excellent work suitable to advanced readers and would be suitable in the classroom. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter make the text even more suitable for a classroom than it already is, or at least invites the casual reader to consider important points. Additional recommended readings provide good lists of sources for further exploration. One problem with this work is numerous punctuation errors that will hopefully be fixed in the second edition—an incorrect period, missing commas/colons/a hyphen (27, 86, 116, 137, 156, 183, 185, 189, 209, 226, 227, 233). Fortunately these do not greatly affect the extremely well-written text, which is more important than proofreading mistakes, and are likely not the authors’ faults anyway. As a history major, I enjoy reading sociologies and sociohistories to round out the timeline of events, to see the impacts to people and how they live their daily lives, and this work is solid in that.
4.5/5 Stars.
1. "'I Wanted To Show Americans How Ordinary Chinese Live' | China In The Red | Frontline," PBS, accessed February 19, 2016, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/red/ordinary/.
2. Bingqin Li, "China’s Hukou Reform a Small Step in the Right Direction," East Asia Forum, last modified January 13, 2015, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2015/01/13/chinas-hukou-reform-a-small-step-in-the-right-direction/; Tania Branigan, "China Reforms Hukou System to Improve Migrant Workers' Rights," Guardian, last modified July 31, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/31/china-reform-hukou-migrant-workers.
Despite its length, the book is very dense, compacting a lot of information into tightly written essays with very good documentation of sources. At twenty-two pages, I believe this is the longest introduction I have ever read, but it is completely justified and historically accurate. Semi-accessible to advanced readers and absent of heavier sociological theory terms that allows a non-sociology major to read easier, though the work is still obviously rooted in sociology. When sociological terms are used, most are explained, and the book also includes a key to Chinese terms.
Not only for those interested in sociology, but also plenty to appeal to those interested in history and economics, by using a variety of sources from Chinese and Western researchers and from a variety of specialities ranging from anthropology, sociology, history, economics, and writers. These perspectives show historical Chinese patterns of living within a now mixed-economy and also contrasts modern China with other societies. Additionally, this allows the work to present alternative views and criticisms and the authors’ note when there is very little data available to thoroughly examine problems or where data or opinions contradict (246, 247, 248, 258). The greatest thing about this work is it provides solid, neutral examinations without sacrificing the positives and negatives. To be sure, any society has its ups and downs, and the authors do not skirt around negative issues, such as the “forced detention of [rural] migrants” in cities, and an execution of an environmental activist (77, 270). In essence, it is a balanced and fair work.
Highly recommended to history majors for the sociohistory and invaluable to anyone looking to work or do business in China or study its economics. Chapter 3, “Work,” is a concise but highly dense analysis of recent regulations and trends affecting employment, and despite regulations and laws to improve conditions, the picture is still not pretty. Business people and economists should also read Chapter 10, “Social Class and Stratification,” and Chapter 11, “Regional, Rural-Urban and Within-community Inequalities,” for additional socioeconomic insight. This book is also good for anyone interested in serious travelling through China if you want want a more rounded and deeper picture than the usual offerings in travel guides.
Contemporary China was published in 2013, and within a year the hukou residence registration system was revamped state-wide—instead of previously somewhat left up to local jurisdictions to judge and grant registration.² Even though this is a recent publication, this shows how fast things can change, and even with the change, the discussion on hukou in this book is sociohistorically valuable. What is interesting about the hukou system historically, that despite a post-dynastic, single China—in contrast to the domains of warlords and emperors in the past—the use of locality in determining social status and citizenship was and is still very much prevalent. Although that is changing as the articles footnoted point out, based on Chinese protests over their “legal rights” (79).
So how different is modern China from historical China? This work also explores that and I find it is not that different. Neo-Confucianism is still alive today. Literary masculinity, scholars, morals, and exams are still primary, with the education system seen as proving one’s morals and suzhi (quality), and also still giving average people a chance to success as it did historically (166, 168, 173, 175). Additionally, the divide of rural-urban and woman-man is still strong, although quickly changing. The previously mentioned hukou system was the main source of the rural-urban divide, with rural peoples looked down on by urbanites as a lower class, and with many rural people going to great lengths to hide their origins (66).
We also find that China is not all the same ethnicity. With 56 official ethnicities, one of which, Han, typically lumped as “Chinese,” is in itself consisting of multiple ethnicities and cultures (147, 148). Besides the discussion of broader categories and mainstream social roles, the authors take care to present regional, ethnic, and community variations within the larger group and also explore traditionally underrepresented groups where data is available, such as the LGBT community, the poor, and sex workers. Contemporary China shows that China is not homogenous and is rapidly changing. Youth culture is discussed along with the impact of the Internet and foreign culture exposures. China has relaxed into a mixed state-controlled/capitalist economy, creating two different worlds to have employment in. More changes may even come about as the younger individualistic generation grows older along with internal and international modern economic and social pressures (184, 193).
Overall, this is an excellent work suitable to advanced readers and would be suitable in the classroom. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter make the text even more suitable for a classroom than it already is, or at least invites the casual reader to consider important points. Additional recommended readings provide good lists of sources for further exploration. One problem with this work is numerous punctuation errors that will hopefully be fixed in the second edition—an incorrect period, missing commas/colons/a hyphen (27, 86, 116, 137, 156, 183, 185, 189, 209, 226, 227, 233). Fortunately these do not greatly affect the extremely well-written text, which is more important than proofreading mistakes, and are likely not the authors’ faults anyway. As a history major, I enjoy reading sociologies and sociohistories to round out the timeline of events, to see the impacts to people and how they live their daily lives, and this work is solid in that.
4.5/5 Stars.
1. "'I Wanted To Show Americans How Ordinary Chinese Live' | China In The Red | Frontline," PBS, accessed February 19, 2016, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/red/ordinary/.
2. Bingqin Li, "China’s Hukou Reform a Small Step in the Right Direction," East Asia Forum, last modified January 13, 2015, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2015/01/13/chinas-hukou-reform-a-small-step-in-the-right-direction/; Tania Branigan, "China Reforms Hukou System to Improve Migrant Workers' Rights," Guardian, last modified July 31, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/31/china-reform-hukou-migrant-workers.
prior-reads-2011-2020
June 24, 2017Textbook - stopped at chapter 3, may pick it back up before trip to China
April 17, 2017
Great book for first year classes in Chinese society.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews