The first is 19' s Westernization Movement in the 1960s and the Reform Movement of 1898. The Westernization Movement and the Reform Movement of 1898 played an important role in the development of capitalism in China and the cultivation of bourgeoisie and petty bourgeoisie in China.

The second is the entry of foreign forces and the formation of new cultural thoughts. 1840 after the opium war, China was forced to open its doors, and western economic, cultural and religious forces entered, and foreign employees began to appear in China society.

Third, the germination of industrialization and the emergence of new industries have cultivated the national bourgeoisie and petty bourgeoisie in China.

The basic structure of China society from 65438 to 0949;

Bureaucratic bourgeoisie-big landlords-national bourgeoisie-petty bourgeoisie-workers-unemployed people

From the end of 19 to the first half of the 20th century. Self-sufficient agricultural society was still the main economic feature at that time. Judging from the consumption pattern of the whole society, the traditional frugal and practical consumption pattern that meets the basic survival needs is still the mainstream. However, with the development of capitalist industry and commerce and the influence of foreign culture, some capitalist lifestyles that were quite different from China's traditional consumption patterns and cultures began to appear in the upper middle class at that time.

2. The disappearance period of delamination (1949— 1978).

1949- 1978 is a "de-stratification" stage characterized by egalitarianism. During this period, the meaning of class division in China was vague in property, occupation and education, but it was quite clear in political sense, and it was clearly divided into proletariat and (overthrown) bourgeoisie. Therefore, in a strict sense, China was in a classless social state during this period, which many scholars called the' de-stratification' stage.

The orientation of social and economic system is planned economy, and the government is the main distributor of social resources. The necessities of life are rationed by the government issuing tickets, and the whole society is basically in a state of shortage economy, and the supply of goods is insufficient. The ownership form orientation of the economic system is state-owned (public) and collective ownership, and the private economy basically does not exist.

From the perspective of social system structure, China implements an identity system based on the household registration system, and defines the relationship between social members through different divisions of occupation and unit, rural areas and cities. Due to the restriction of household registration and unit system, the society is in a state of low mobility and high closure, and it is quite difficult to change the membership relationship of the society.

3 Re-growth period (1978- now)

From 65438 to 0978, China implemented the new policy of reform and opening up, and the middle class was able to grow again and develop rapidly in China. Looking back, the basic goals of China's reform and opening up are: first, gradually accept the adoption of the market economic system and gradually accept the privatization of property; The second is to gradually bring China's economy into the track of globalization.

This policy orientation has changed the original state monopoly and resource allocation system, and the diversified resource allocation system has led to changes in asset owners and the formation of new social classes, which directly promoted the cultivation of the middle class. With the joint efforts of policy, economy, society and culture, the social structure of China has undergone tremendous changes, and social stratification has become more and more obvious. At the same time, due to the development of economy and society, the enrichment of material life and the continuous accumulation of social wealth and personal wealth, people's consumption breadth and freedom have expanded dramatically.

As Dai Huisi and others said, China is experiencing a consumption revolution. With the rapid expansion of marketization and consumption, the characteristics of consumer society are gradually emerging in China. In the great social changes, the new consumption culture is also undergoing a process of reconstruction in China society.

The formation of the middle class (after 1993)

Since 1993, the middle class in China has really formed and developed rapidly. Because the development of the middle class in China is closely related to the policies of the * * * production party, it can only grow under the system of market economy. The social and economic development framework established by China * * * Production Party 14 Congress is an important symbol of China's full entry into the market economy. It can be said that it has objectively cleared the way for the growth of the middle class in China.

Create background

1989- 199 1 year, under the influence of a series of factors such as political environment and policies, China's economy, including individual and private economy, entered a trough.

From 65438 to 0992, Deng Xiaoping made a southern tour and put forward the idea that "development is the last word". In June 5438+10, the fourth congress of the * * * Production Party established the framework of market economy in an all-round way, and changed the ownership form of our country from a single form with public ownership as the main body to a mixed form with public ownership as the main body and multiple ownership systems developing together. Private property rights are politically recognized. China's social and economic development has entered the second round of climax.

After 1993, China stepped up its efforts to introduce foreign-funded enterprises and technologies, and a large number of multinational companies and international capital entered. The number of' white-collar' employees working in foreign-funded enterprises in the employment group has increased rapidly.

Encouraged by the policy, a large number of highly educated talents with technical resources, management resources and social resources have gone to sea to do business, while a large number of state-owned and collective enterprises have been transformed into private enterprises in the process of auction and lease. The composition of individual-private entrepreneurs is no longer a marginalized group, and the group image and quality are constantly improving. The total number of private entrepreneurs in China increased from 2 1000 in 1989 to 3.95 million in 2000.

The central government has greatly increased the salary income of government civil servants and personnel of state-owned enterprises and institutions (including research institutes and universities) many times, which has enabled this class to enter the middle-income class.

Under the background of industrial restructuring, the proportion of service industry is increasing, consumer services are improving, and the scale of emerging industries and new professionals is expanding.

Composition and characteristics

Subdividing the current middle class in China can be basically divided into five types:

One is the white-collar class. Including the manager; White-collar workers in foreign-funded enterprises; Middle and low-level managers of state-owned and other forms of enterprises; Middle and lower managers and employees in special monopoly industries (finance, insurance, telecommunications, etc.). ).

The second is the business elite (entrepreneurs) of small and medium-sized enterprises. It is a group with relatively strong economic capital. Including small and medium-sized private entrepreneurs; Contractors of state-owned and joint ventures.

Third, a certain level of government officials (political elite)