Social Changes in China (1949-2019)

This book is a groundbreaking sociological exploration of China’s social transformation. Over the past 70 years, China has undergone profound social change. This book offers a comprehensive and original analysis of that transformation, focusing on the dynamic interplay between institutional shifts and everyday life. Using an innovative institutional-life analytical framework, this book reveals how institutional systems have shaped—and been shaped by—ordinary people’s experiences, identities, and social relations. Moving beyond Western-centric paradigms, this book explores how China has maintained social cohesion amid rapid economic growth, urbanization, and evolving governance structures. Key issues such as grassroots governance, social mobility, identity reconstruction, and the adaptive role of the Communist Party in balancing development and stability are also addressed. Additionally, it examines how digital platforms are quietly reshaping labor, community, and civic engagement. This book is ideal for scholars, policy researchers, and advanced students of sociology, political science, and China studies, combining conceptual innovation with rich empirical insight.