Routledge Understanding Chinese Society

This second edition of Understanding Chinese Society provides a comprehensive, readable, and well-grounded introduction to the key issues affecting contemporary China. A thorough analysis is undertaken not only of China’s family patterns, education system, status, hierarchy, and ethnic diversity, but also of China’s mass media, legal system and social control, work, and cultural expression. As well as being thoroughly updated and revised throughout, this edition offers new chapters on urbanization, the environment, and civil society in China. A team of international experts guide students though social issues including: What are the key features of the family and marriage institutions in China? How are women and men faring differently in Chinese society today? How are minorities faring in China? How does the education system differentiate Chinese society? How are religion and cultural traditions expressed? Including handy pedagogical features such as a chronology of the People's Republic of China, further reading suggestions, and related novels and films, Understanding Chinese Society is suitable for anyone studying Chinese Culture and Society, Chinese Studies and Asian sociology. Review 'Chinese Society is undergoing powerful transformation with economic restructuring, growth and global interaction. This collection of essays on different aspects of that transformation provides an excellent introduction to the structures and dynamics of Chinese society that will be of inestimable value to teachers and students alike.' Professor David S G Goodman, University of Sydney, Australia. 'There has long been a need for an up-to-date textbook such as Understanding Chinese Society, in which leading scholars cover major developments in China's rapidly changing society. The individual chapters in Zang Xiaowei's edited volume do an excellent job in providing a basic overview of the most important areas of Chinese social life, whilst also addressing continuities and differences from pre-1949 and Maoist China. It should be welcomed for a variety of courses on Chinese politics and society, as well as general education and sociology courses where China is placed in a comparative pe About the Author Xiaowei Zang is Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and Chair Professor of Social Sciences at City University of Hong Kong, China.