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I am pleased to recommend Poverty and Pacification: The Chinese State Abandons the Old Working Class by Dorothy J. Solinger for your upcoming book club selection. This deeply researched yet profoundly human account offers a compelling lens into one of the most consequential economic transformations of the late 20th century.

Why This Book is Perfect for Your Book Club

1. Timely and Globally Relevant Themes
As conversations around economic inequality, labor displacement, and the human cost of globalization continue worldwide, Solinger’s work provides a powerful case study. The book examines China’s sweeping state-owned enterprise reforms in the 1990s—when tens of millions of workers lost lifelong job security—and explores how modernization can come at enormous social cost.

2. Rich Discussion Potential
This title naturally invites thoughtful dialogue around:

The trade-off between economic reform and social stability

Government responsibility toward displaced workers

Welfare as support vs. welfare as social control (the dibao system)

The moral dimensions of modernization

Comparisons to labor restructuring in other countries

Book clubs that enjoy political nonfiction, global affairs, sociology, or human rights themes will find this work intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.

3. Deeply Human Storytelling
While grounded in rigorous scholarship, the book draws on dozens of personal interviews, bringing to life the voices of middle-aged urban workers suddenly rendered obsolete. Members will connect not just with policy analysis, but with lived experience—making discussions both analytical and empathetic.

4. Cross-Disciplinary Appeal
Ideal for book clubs interested in:

Global politics

Economic history

Social justice

Asian studies

Public policy

Comparative welfare systems

What Makes It Stand Out

Unlike many macro-level economic studies, Solinger focuses on the people behind the statistics—the former factory workers who once enjoyed cradle-to-grave security under state socialism, only to face poverty and marginalization during China’s market transition. The examination of the Minimum Livelihood Guarantee (dibao) as both relief and pacification mechanism adds a provocative layer that will spark meaningful debate.

Suggested Discussion Questions for Clubs

Is economic modernization justified if it marginalizes an entire generation?

Can welfare systems serve both humanitarian and political ends?

How does China’s experience compare to deindustrialization in Western economies?

Who bears responsibility when state policy reshapes millions of lives?

This book offers not just insight into China’s transformation, but a broader meditation on how societies manage change—and who gets left behind.

I would be delighted to explore placement opportunities and provide additional materials to support your discussion (reading guides, author background, thematic briefs, etc.).

Thank you for your consideration.