The Political Economy of Reforms and the Remaking of the Proletarian Class in China, 1980s-2010s: Demystifying China's Society and Social Classes in the Post-Mao Era

This book explores the position of China's working class between the 1980s and 2010s, arguing that economic reforms have led to the return of traditional Marxist proletariats. It demonstrates how Deng Xiaoping's reforms have increased economic efficiency but at the expense of economic equality through a case study of an SOE in Sichuan Province. It also discusses workers' protests during these periods to reflect the reformation of class consciousness in post-Mao China.

Format: Hardback
Length: 276 pages
Publication date: 20 January 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This comprehensive book delves into the dynamics of China's working class between the 1980s and 2010s, examining the profound consequences of economic reforms in historical context. It argues that, contrary to the illusion prevalent during the Maoist era, the post-Mao economic reforms have resulted in the resurgence of traditional Marxist proletariats in China. Through an extensive case study of an SOE in Sichuan Province and broader discussions of the emergence of state capitalism on both micro and macroeconomic levels, the book demonstrates how the reforms of Deng Xiaoping have led to increased economic efficiency at the expense of economic equality. Additionally, it explores workers' protests during these periods of economic reform as a reflection of the reformation of class consciousness in post-Mao China, drawing upon Marx's concept of a transition from a 'class-in-itself' to a 'class-for-itself.' This book is of immense value to students and scholars of Chinese economic and social history, political economy, sociology, and politics, offering valuable insights into the complex and evolving landscape of China's working class.

Weight: 514g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031204548
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023