Legal Lessons: Popularizing Laws in the People's Republic of China, 1949-1989

The popularization of basic legal knowledge is an important technique of state governance in China, with roots reaching back to the early years of Chinese Communist Party rule. Jennifer Altehenger's book "Legal Lessons" explores how the party-state attempted to mobilize ordinary citizens to learn laws during the early years of the Mao period and in the decade after Maos death, using archival records, internal publications, periodicals, advice manuals, memoirs, and propaganda materials. It offers a new perspective on the sociocultural and political history of law in socialist China.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 406 pages
Publication date: 28 May 2021
Publisher: Harvard University, Asia Center

The widespread dissemination of fundamental legal knowledge is a crucial and contentious strategy employed by the Chinese government in contemporary times. Its origins can be traced back to the early years of the Chinese Communist Party's rule.

Legal Lessons delves into the narrative of how the party-state endeavored to engage ordinary citizens in the study of laws during the early years of the Mao era, which spanned from 1949 to 1976, as well as in the decade following Mao's passing. By examining case studies such as the widespread dissemination of the 1950 Marriage Law and subsequent constitutions in Beijing and Shanghai since 1954, Jennifer Altehenger sheds light on the dissemination of legal knowledge at various levels of state and society. Archival records, internal publications, periodicals, advice manuals, memoirs, and vibrant propaganda materials provide a rich tapestry of how official efforts to establish and propagate "correct" interpretations of laws intertwined with individuals' interpretations of written laws and their real-world experiences with these laws. These materials also unveil the diverse range of groups, including party-state leadership, legal experts, publishers, writers, artists, and local officials, as well as ordinary citizens, who played a pivotal role in shaping the meaning of laws within China's socialist society.

By centering the analysis on mass legal education and law propaganda, Legal Lessons presents a fresh perspective on the sociocultural and political history of law in socialist China. This book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics between the state, legal professionals, and the broader public, contributing to our understanding of the role of law in shaping society during this pivotal period in Chinese history.

Weight: 520g
Dimension: 153 x 225 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674251243