Rural Reform and Development in China From Mao to Deng

Lacey Bradley

Date of Award

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Tegtmeyer-Pak, Katherine

Keywords

China, Decentralization, Reform

Area of Concentration

Political Science

Abstract

This study demonstrates the origins of rural reform in China as a reaction to failed institutions and policies implemented under Mao Zedong. It goes on to suggest that economic institutions and political organizations in the rural sector lagged behind economic reforms, thus hindering the development of the countryside. This underdevelopment was due to a combination of several factors: central policies biased to the urban sector, political infighting, and provincially led reforms. These factors led to uncoordinated and incomplete central policies, which contributed to urban-rural disparity and heavy economic burdens placed upon the peasantry. Lastly, this study focuses upon how the underdevelopment of the countryside undetermined the party in the rural sector, as evidenced by increased peasant dissatisfaction and the changing career paths of local officials.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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