how China’s communist society is evolving due to the influences of modernization and consumerism
The common theme addressed by three papers is how China’s communist society is evolving due to the influences of modernization and consumerism.
The central argument by Yan is the rise of individualization in China’s society. Yan explores the social transformation taking place in China due to the influence of individualization on China’s culture. Yan explores the origin of individualization in the Maoist era and the evolution of individualization in the last three decades of the post-Mao period.
The central premise in Ngai’s article is to contrast the experience of women laborers in China’s countryside with that of urban dwellers in terms of consumption. Ngai examines the relationship between production and consumption in China’s new economy. Ngai aims to determine whether the consumption revolution sweeping China helps to democratize society, or it contributes to socioeconomic inequality.
Davis aims to explore the demographic challenges facing modern China. The article highlights the negative consequences of China’s one-child policy that has created a rapidly aging population devoid of children to support them. Finally, the article offers suggestions for new policies that the Chinese government can adopt to deal with the challenges created by the one-child policy.
The three articles complement each other because they both address the future of China’s society. However, Yan and Ngai approach the subject from a socioeconomic perspective. Yan and Ngai discuss the influence of consumerism and individualization on China’s communist society. In contrast, Davis also discusses the future of China’s modern society but from a demographic perspective