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If your book club is drawn to selections that ignite thoughtful conversation, broaden international understanding, and question prevailing narratives about economic reform and modernization, Poverty and Pacification stands out as an outstanding choice.

In this landmark study, Solinger reveals a deeply overlooked human dimension behind China’s ascent as a global economic force. While international observers applauded market reforms and WTO membership, millions of middle-aged urban workers—once guaranteed lifelong employment—were silently dismissed from collapsing state enterprises.

The book poses a haunting and vital question:

What becomes of those a system no longer requires?

Why This Book Belongs in Book Clubs

1️⃣ It Personalizes Global Economics
Rather than relying solely on policy theory, Solinger grounds her work in extensive interviews, allowing readers to encounter the lived realities of displaced workers. These narratives inspire empathy and meaningful dialogue.

2️⃣ It Reexamines the “China Miracle”
While China’s growth story is often framed in triumph, this book sheds light on the social sacrifices embedded within that transformation, encouraging debate around inequality, development, and political equilibrium.

3️⃣ It Explores a Complex Welfare Policy
The Minimum Livelihood Guarantee (dibao) served a dual role: reducing poverty while preserving social order. This raises compelling questions:

Is welfare rooted in compassion or control?

How do governments maintain reform without unrest?

What comparisons can be drawn globally?

4️⃣ It Speaks to the Present Moment
In an era marked by automation and restructuring, its themes echo worldwide:

Workforce displacement

Financial instability

The governance of poverty

The marginalization of aging workers

Engaging Discussion Questions

Is progress defensible if an entire generation bears the cost?

Can welfare programs alleviate hardship, or do they simply manage dissent?

What ethical obligations arise during large-scale layoffs?

How should states honor promises of lifelong security?

Ideal for Readers Interested In:

International politics

Economic disparity

Asian studies

Labor movements

Social justice

Governance and public policy

Especially suited for:

Academic reading groups

Policy-focused clubs

Global affairs circles

Choosing Poverty and Pacification signals that your book club values critical inquiry, elevates overlooked perspectives, and seeks conversations that endure beyond the final page.
Poverty and Pacification: The Chinese State Abandons the Old Working Class
Dorothy J. Solinger