Defining and defending the "social": a Chinese tale

Abstract

The　experiences　of　the　People’s　Republic　of China, because (and　in　spite) of　its　being formally　socialist, can　be　looked　at　from　the　angle　of the　contested　social　domain　in　both　terms of　ideology　and　politics. Such　contesting　forces　may　range　from　government　to　citizens, from elites　to　the　larger　population, from　the　state　to　the　market, from　market　to　non-market　actors, from　classes　to　other　social　groups, from　collective　to　family　and　individual　agents, from public　to　private　sectors, and　so　on. Central　to　this　approach　is　the　recognition　of the　changing social　contract　from　within　a　paternalistic　soclalism　to　something　yet　to　be　determined　and forged, depending　on　on-going　strugg1es　in　local　and　global　contexts