China's Social Structure and Social Stratification
Author：李强 Source：深圳创新发展研究院 Date：2016-05-09
On April 26, Professor Qiang Li, Sociologist and Dean of Social Science at Tsinghua University, joined the Public Lecture Series of Shenzhen Innovation Development Institute, and delivered a speech titled “China’s Social Structure and Social Stratification”. Professor Li believed that China’s socioeconomic structure and social structure have significantly transformed since the Reform and Opening-Up. The wealth gap is evident, wealth is concentrated, and the society is divided and gradually stratified. The division between social classes have been consolidating, and the social mobility from lower-class to upper class has diminished, so has the degree of which middle class can move up the social ladder. New reality has brought forth new social issues, as well as a series of challenges to social harmony.
During his speech, Professor Li has talked about five issues. (1) how we can understand the phenomena of social stratification in China, (2) the reality of social stratification and social structure, (3) what we know from social structure census, (4) the wealth gap and its countermeasures in China, (5) the social stratification and its countermeasures in China; and (6) how China can push forward social modernization.
Professor Li believed that it is hard to eradicate the stratification attribute of the social structure. Differences have existed in all forms of human societies, even in tribes where the tribal chief was treated differently from the rest of the clan, and therefore equality can exist in a stratified society. Contemporary society emphasizes equal opportunities, in which the report from the 18th National Congress of the CCP outlined the concept of “Equal Power, Equal Opportunities, Equal Rules.” This was the biggest conceptual progression since the Reform and Opening-up, Professor Li argued, as the Party realized that people seek for an equal and fair system in an extremely complicated society. It is impossible just to equalize the wealth distribution, as experiments have shown us.
Professor Li pointed to the International Socio-Economic Index (ISEI) compiled with the data from the population census in 2000 and 2010, which showed that China’s social structure has been transforming from a reversed T-shape to a reversed-Y shape. This is due to the vast amount of lower-class population. Both the deep-rooted problems among peasants and China’s regional difference contributed to the rigid social structure.
To close China’s wealth gap, Professor Li stressed the relationship between the values of the population and the state institutions. Wealth gap is closely related to the regional difference; therefore we must recognize the unequal social security system across China. China should also avoid the extreme situation where wealth is concentrated on the hands of a few, or one where populist sentiment becomes popular.
In conclusion, Professor Li pointed out that China’s social structure remained to have a broad base of lower-class, regardless of whether it is a reversed T-shape or a reversed Y-shape. China would complete its modernization process when more lower-class population enters the middle class and turning the social structure into an olive-shape. To achieve this goal, China must insist the its transformation in industry mix and talents; as well as that of urbanization and social structure; turning migrant workers, or mingong, into a middle-income group; constructing a social security system; and creating more educated-based paths to the middle class.
During his speech, Professor Li has talked about five issues. (1) how we can understand the phenomena of social stratification in China, (2) the reality of social stratification and social structure, (3) what we know from social structure census, (4) the wealth gap and its countermeasures in China, (5) the social stratification and its countermeasures in China; and (6) how China can push forward social modernization.
Professor Li believed that it is hard to eradicate the stratification attribute of the social structure. Differences have existed in all forms of human societies, even in tribes where the tribal chief was treated differently from the rest of the clan, and therefore equality can exist in a stratified society. Contemporary society emphasizes equal opportunities, in which the report from the 18th National Congress of the CCP outlined the concept of “Equal Power, Equal Opportunities, Equal Rules.” This was the biggest conceptual progression since the Reform and Opening-up, Professor Li argued, as the Party realized that people seek for an equal and fair system in an extremely complicated society. It is impossible just to equalize the wealth distribution, as experiments have shown us.
Professor Li pointed to the International Socio-Economic Index (ISEI) compiled with the data from the population census in 2000 and 2010, which showed that China’s social structure has been transforming from a reversed T-shape to a reversed-Y shape. This is due to the vast amount of lower-class population. Both the deep-rooted problems among peasants and China’s regional difference contributed to the rigid social structure.
To close China’s wealth gap, Professor Li stressed the relationship between the values of the population and the state institutions. Wealth gap is closely related to the regional difference; therefore we must recognize the unequal social security system across China. China should also avoid the extreme situation where wealth is concentrated on the hands of a few, or one where populist sentiment becomes popular.
In conclusion, Professor Li pointed out that China’s social structure remained to have a broad base of lower-class, regardless of whether it is a reversed T-shape or a reversed Y-shape. China would complete its modernization process when more lower-class population enters the middle class and turning the social structure into an olive-shape. To achieve this goal, China must insist the its transformation in industry mix and talents; as well as that of urbanization and social structure; turning migrant workers, or mingong, into a middle-income group; constructing a social security system; and creating more educated-based paths to the middle class.
