Monday
Fall 2008
3501
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INSTRUCTOR: WU Xiaogang
OFFICE: 3377
PHONE: 23587827
EMAIL: sowu@ust.hk
INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT:
Office Hours:
Wednesday
TA:
Zhang Zhuoni (zhzhni@ust.hk)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is a graduate seminar
for reading and discussing scholarly works on contemporary Chinese society
since 1949, with a focus
on changes in the post-Mao era. The course is organized as
a thematic discussion of some major issues actively
pursued in the sociological study of
After taking this course, students are expected
gain not only factual knowledge of Chinese society but also a critical
assessment of current sociological literature on China, based on which some
students may develop their own research interests.
FORMAT AND REQUIREMENT
The class will meet once a week. The instructor will give a brief
introduction on the context, followed by the discussion of relevant literature.
Students are expected to finish assigned readings before the class, and contribute
ideas and questions for discussion.
As a part of class
preparation, starting from Week 2, students will alternate to read
supplementary readings and write a précis. A précis is a summary
that contains the essential details about theory, method, and findings. It is
NOT a critique. For a 20 page article, a 2 page, single-spaced summary usually
suffices. This group of students (2-3 people) will serve as discussion leaders.
The responsibilities of the team include: (1) to write the précis for the week;
(2) to prepare a brief oral introduction of the readings for the purposes of
initiating the class discussion; and (3) to prepare a set of questions that
will guide class discussion. For the most part it is NOT the responsibility of
the team to lecture to the class. Rather, the team’s responsibility is to keep
the discussion going and to make sure that the key aspects of the readings are
covered.
Conversely, students
who are not discussion leaders in a given week have the same responsibility as
the leaders to read and be prepared to discuss the week’s readings.
They are expected to
write a short note (no more than one page) to summarize the central
argument/findings of what he/she has read for the required readings during the
week, and to comment briefly on them. Moreover, each week each student is
expected to raise at least one question that he/she regards as important and
wants to be discussed in class.
A term paper is
required of those taking the seminar for credit. Topics are open as long as
they are relevant to the content of the course. Students are encouraged to
discuss with the instructor about their topics. A short proposal or outline is
due on Oct 20th.
GRADING POLICY
·
Attendance and
participation: 10%
·
Weekly reading notes: 20%
·
Term paper: 70%.
TEXTBOOKS AND
No
textbook will be used.
Although this is
English ONLY class, some Chinese reading materials may be included.
We will post announcement,
lecture notes, and some related readings on the course homepage created for
this course. You may use your ITSC username and password to
log in (http://lmes2.ust.hk ) and find the
course syllabus, reading materials.
Topics
Week 1: Introduction: the study of Chinese society
Week 2: The party-state and society
Week 3: The hukou
system and rural-urban divide
Week 4: The countryside and rural development
Week 5: The urban workplace (danwei)
Week 6: Job, employment and labor relations
Week 7: Educational inequality
Week 8: Political and economic elite
Week 9-10: Market transition，social stratification, and inequality
Week 11: Change,
conflict and resistance
Week 12: Social
relationships
Week 13: Paper presentation
Abbreviations are used for major
journals in sociology
AJS American Journal of
Sociology ARS Annual
Review of Sociology
ASR American Sociological
Review CQ
SF Social Forces
R: Required
readings P: Précis
readings
COURSE
Introduction: The Study of Chinese Society and the
History of PRC
1.
Walder, Andrew G. 1989. “Social Change in
Post-Revolution
2. Meisner, Maurice 1999. Mao’s
3. Zhou, Xueguang and
4. Qi, Dongtao. 2007 “Interview
with Andrew Walder” Perspectives Vol.
8, No. 1 [P]
PRC History [Documentary: The Mao Years]
Week 2 (Sept 8)
The Party-State and Society
1. Walder, Andrew G. 1986. Communist Neo-Traditionalism: Work and Authority in Chinese Industry
Chapter 3 “The Party-State in the Factory” Pp 85-122. UC Press [R].
2. Lieberthal, Kenneth 1995 Governing
3. Lin,
4. Walder, Andrew G. 1995. “Local Governments as
Industrial Firms: An Organizational Analysis of
Sept 15 (Holiday) No Class
Week 3 (Sept 22)
The hukou System and Rural-Urban Divide
1. Cheng, Tiejun
and Mark Selden 1994. “The Origins and Social Consequences of
China’s Hukou
System. CQ 139:644-68 [R]
2. Chan, Kam Wing, and
Li Zhang. 1999. “The Hukou
System and Rural Urban Migration in
3. Wang, Fei-ling.
2004. “Reformed Migration Control and New List of the
Targeted People:
4. Solinger,
Dorothy 1999 “China’s Floating Population” pp220-240 in The
Paradox of China’s Post-Mao Reforms Merle Goldman and Roderick Macfarquhar Harvard University Press [P].
5. Wu, Xiaogang, and Donald J. Treiman 2004.
“The Household Registration System and Social Stratification in
6. Wu,
Xiaogang and Donald J. Treiman. 2007. “Inequality and Equality under
Chinese Socialism: The Hukou
System and Intergenerational Occupational Mobility.” AJ S 113:415-45 [P].
Week 4 (Sept 29)
The Countryside and Rural Development
1. Meisner, Maurice 1999 Mao’s
2. Parish, William L. and Martin King Whyte
1978. Village and
Family in Contemporary
3. Oi, Jean 1999. Rural
4. Berstein, Thomas
1999. “Farmer Discontent and Regime Response” Pp 197-219 in The Paradox of China’s Post-Mao Reforms
edited by Merle Goldman and Roderick Macfarquhar,
Harvard University Press [P].
5. Peng, Yusheng. 2001 “
6. Kung, James and Lin Yimin 2007, “The Decline
of Township-and-Village Enterprises in
Week 5 (October 6):
The Urban Workplace (danwei)
1. Walder, Andrew G. 1986. Communist Neo-Traditionalism: Work and Authority in Chinese Industry
Pp 28-81. U of
2. Bian, Yanjie 1994. Work and Inequality in Urban
3. Naughton, Barry 1997, “Danwei: The Economic Foundations of a Unique Institution” in X. Lü & E. Perry (eds.), Danwei: The Changing Chinese Workplace in Historical and
Comparative Perspective.
4. Xie, Yu and Xiaogang Wu. 2008. “Danwei Profitability and Earnings
Inequality in Urban
5. Walder, Andrew G. 1992. “Property Rights and
Stratification in Socialist Redistributive Economies” ASR 57: 524-39 [P]
6. Wu, Xiaogang. 2002. “Work Units and Income
Inequality: The Effect of Market Transition in Urban
Week 6 (Oct 13)
Jobs and Employment, Changing Labor Relations
1. Walder, Andrew G. 1986. Communist Neo-Traditionalism: Work and Authority in Chinese Industry Pp
1-27.
2. Bian, Yanjie 1994. Work and Inequality in Urban
3. Whyte, Martin K. 1999. “The Changing Role of
Workers” Pp 173-196 in The Paradox of
China’s Post-Mao Reforms edited by Merle Goldman and Roderick Macfarquhar, Harvard University Press [R]
4. Zhou Xueguang, Nancy
Brandon Tuma, and Phyllis Moen. 1997. “Institutional Change and Job-shift
Patterns in Urban China, 1949 to 1994.” ASR
62:339-65 [P]
5. Tang, Wenfang, and William Parish. 2000. Chinese Urban Life under Reform: The
Changing Social Contract Chapter 6. Pp 128-162.
6. Lee, Ching Kwan. 1999. “From Organized
Dependence to Disorganized Despotism: Changing Labor Relations in Chinese
Factories” CQ 157: 44-71 [P]
Week 7 (Oct 20)
Educational Inequality
1. Wang, James C.F. 2002 Contemporary Chinese Politics: An Introduction Chapter 12 (Pp
338-350) Prentice-Hall [R]
2. Tsui
K.Y. 1997. “Economic Reform and the Attainment in Basic
Education in
3. Davis, Debra, Pierre
Landry, Yusheng Peng, and Jin Xiao 2007. “Gendered Pathways to Rural Schooling:
The Interplay of Wealth and Local Institutions.” CQ 185: 60-82 [R]
4. Hannum, E. and Y. Xie. 1994. “Trends in
Educational Gender Inequality in
1985.” Research
in Social Stratification and Mobility 13:73-98 [P].
5．Deng, Zhong and Donald Treiman 1997 “The Impact of the
Cultural Revolution on Trends in Educational Attainment in the People’s
Republic of
6. Zhou, Xueguang, Phyllis Moen, and Nancy
Brandon Tuma. 1998. “Educational Stratification in Urban
Week 8 (Oct 27)
Political and Economic Elite
1. Tang, Wenfang, and
William Parish. 2000. Chinese Urban Life
under Reform: The Changing Social Contract Chapter 7 Pp 163-183.
2. Walder, Andrew G., Bobai
Li, and Donald J. Treiman. 2000. “Politics and Life Chances in a State
Socialist Regime: Dual Career Paths into the Urban Chinese Elite: 1949-1996.” ASR 65:191-209. [R]
3. Dickson, Bruce
2007. “Integrating Wealth and Power in
4. Bian, Yanjie,
Xiaoling Shu and John R.
Logan. 2001. “Communist Party Membership and Regime Dynamics in
5. Li, Bobai, and
Andrew G. Walder 2001. “Career Advancement and Party Patronage: Sponsored
Mobility into the Chinese Administrative Elite.” AJS 106:1371-1408 [P]
6. Bian, Yanjie and
Zhanxin Zhang 2006. “Explaining
Week 9-10 (Nov 3, 10)
Market Transition and
Social Stratification
1. Nee, Victor. 1989.
“A Theory of Market Transition: From Redistribution to Markets in State
Socialism.” ASR 54:663-81 [R]
2. Bian, Yanjie, and
John Logan. 1996. “Market Transition and Persistence of Power: The Changing
Stratification System in Urban
3. Xie, Yu and Emily
Hannum. 1996. “Regional Variation in Earnings Inequality in Reform-Era Urban
4. Zhou, Xueguang
2000. “Economic Transformation and Income Inequality in Urban
5. Wu, Xiaogang and
Yu Xie. 2003. “Does the Market Pay Off? Earnings Inequality and Returns to
Education in Urban
6. Walder, Andrew G. 2003.
“Elite
7. Wu, Xiaogang.
2006. “Communist Cadres and Market Opportunities: Entry to Self-Employment in
8. Bian, Yanjie.
2002. “Chinese Social Stratification and Social Mobility” ARS 28:91-116 [R]
9. Parish, William L.
and Ethan Michelson. 1996. “Politics and Markets: Dual Transformations.” AJS 101:1042-59 [P].
10. Walder, Andrew G.
2002. “Markets and Income Inequality in Rural
11. 边燕杰 (主编) 2002 《市场转型与社会分层》生活. 读书. 新知 三联书店 (Introduction) [P]
12. 边燕杰、吴晓刚、李路路（主编）2008 《社会分层与流动：海外中国研究的新进展》中国人民大学出版社 (Introduction) [P]
Week 11 (Nov 10)
Collective Action and Resistance
1. Zhou, Xueguang.
1993. “Unorganized Interests and Collective Action in Communist
2. Zhao, Dingxin 1998 “Ecologies of Social Movements: Student
Mobilization During the 1989 Prodemocracy Movement in
3. Michelson, Ethan.
2007. “Climbing the Dispute Pagoda: Grievances and Appeals to the Official
Justice System in Rural
4. Shi, Fayong Cai and Yongshun Cai 2006,
“Disaggregating the State: Networks and Collective Action in
5. Michelson, Ethan 2008
“Justice from Above or Below? Popular Strategies for
Resolving Grievances in Rural
6. Diamant, Neil J.
Week 12 (Nov 17)
Social Relationships
1. Fei,
Xiao-tong.1992. “Chaxugeju: The Differential Mode of
Association” pp 60-70 in From the Soil:
The Foundation of Chinese Society.
2. Wank, David. 1996.
“The Institutional Process of Market Clientelism: Guanxi and Private Business in a
3. Bian Yanjie. 1997. “Bringing strong ties back
in: Indirect ties, network bridges, and job searches in
4. Gutherie, Doug.
1997. “The Declining Significance
of Guanxi in
5. Yang,
6. Peng, Yusheng. 2004. “Kinship
Networks and Entrepreneurs in
Week 13 (Dec 1)
Paper Presentations
[Instruction ends on Dec 6]
Term paper due before