China's Urban Villagers: Changing Life in a Beijing Suburb

by Norman A. Chance

This book describes life in a small village on the outskirts of Beijing. It covers socialization and education, the impact of mechanization amd industrialization, efforts at modernization, and the response of the villagers to political realities in a socialist state. This edition incorporates the recent uprising in China and the tragic events at Tiananmen Square. It describes the outrage expressed by Chinese workers at the rampant inflation and political corruption threatening their livelihood and challenging their sense of social justice, and illustrates how economic and political events of recent years lead to the pro-democratic and anti-corruption protests of 1989.

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Aleksandra]

An eye-opening monograph about a village in the large Red Flag commune situated outside Beijing. Participant observation was conducted by the anthropologist predominantly during the 1970s. Reading from the modern perspective gives great insight into the past.

Though Chance explores relevant themes such as societal structures, growing up and political influence, it lacks significant reflections on the implications of the turbulent political context. The government had chosen the village of study, (a more affluent neighbourhood) and controlled his stay. Hidden motivations or censorship of the research are unknown, but caution is advised, as when reading any text. An example of this is when a young woman is quoted. She is a part of the "sent-down youth", a generation of urban educated youths who were sent to the mountains and countryside to work in the fields, meant to improve economic output. The woman volunteered to leave home and after working as a teaching assistant and cook, decided to stay with the tractor work as she enjoyed it thoroughly. Though this may be a sincere account, Chance fails to mention those who died because of harsh working conditions and illness from unsafe water. Yet, most of this occurred further from large cities such as Beijing where poverty was more apparent.

Overall, Chance wrote a thoughtful monograph, despite the limitations of the appointed, isolated group and a perhaps hidden political agenda of the host country. Many of Chance's predictions did not turn out to be true, as we can see almost thirty years after the publication of the second edition. An example can be seen on page 187, when he speaks of China achieving prosperity through privatisation. He states that "there is little reason to assume that a market-driven economic system will enable China to [...] break out of Third World poverty". This quote goes to serve the huge progress that has occurred in China in such a short time period. China is currently considered a growing world power, with influence stretching far beyond its borders. However, in his closing line, Chance hits the nail on the head. "Small islands of prosperity and corruption on the coasts and stagnation in the hinterland-a sure formula for future revolutionary upheavals" is highly probable. China's increase in security and invasion of privacy further propagates the probability of such an upheaval. Though seemingly modern, many of China's political roots remain and a change in power dynamics is never black and white.