The topic of building a harmonious society is under discussion
throughout the country and a theme of the ongoing NPC and CPPCC
annual sessions. But precisely what is a harmonious society, and is
it actually possible to build one? China.org.cn interviewed leading
sociologist Dr. Li Peilin to find out.
China.org.cn: A decision made at the Fourth Plenum of the
16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in
2004 says that the building of a harmonious society, in which
everyone has an opportunity to make a living, must be put at the
top of the Party’s work agenda. Why did the CPC make that
decision?
Dr. Li: We could say that it is the inevitable outcome of
social development in China. In the 26 years since the reform and
opening policy was implemented, we have seen tremendous changes in
both the economic system and social structure. However, in such a
large territory with such a big population, along with the great
achievements made in a short period come problems and headaches.
These include the growing income disparity, the urban and rural
development imbalance, unemployment, an aging population and
environmental pollution.
It used to be assumed that all these problems would be solved
automatically or reduced to insignificance by economic development
and increased wealth. But economic achievements and the market
economy are by no means a remedy for everything. Therefore, it is
really necessary for China to seek a way to develop
harmoniously.
China.org.cn: You have said that we are in a period of
decisive importance for economic and social transformation. Why is
an environment of social harmony so vital to China’s modernization
drive now?
Dr. Li: The fact is that China has experienced its golden
period of economic and social development in the past decade. In
2004, for example, GDP grew by about 9.5 percent, with growth in
consumer prices kept to about 3 percent. We also saw the first drop
in the urban unemployment rate since 1991 and a historical increase
in farmers’ income.
This also is a period of decisive importance, when a country’s
per capita GDP reaches US$1,000 to 3,000. Sociologically, it is a
transitional period. International experience shows that it
features rapid transition of the industrial structure, dramatic
change of social interests and challenges to existing political and
governmental institutions. A number of countries experienced an
economic takeoff in the 1970s. Some of them have progressed
smoothly to achieve per capita GDP of US$10,000 to 20,000 because
they found sound solutions to social conflicts, while others linger
at US$4,000 or less because they didn't.
That may be the reason China is alert and the government is
calling for proper solutions to social problems and the building of
a harmonious society. This will enable the great cause of reform
and opening, which benefits the nation and its people, to advance
to a higher stage.
China.org.cn: What are some of the characteristics of a
harmonious society?
Dr. Li: First of all, a harmonious society should be
relatively wealthy, since material wealth is fundamental to social
harmony. Nevertheless, there are also some other vital factors,
including distribution of social wealth and coordination of social
interests. Therefore, basic equality and justice, which guarantee
all the people benefit from and share in the economic growth and
social development, characterize a harmonious society.
Next, a harmonious society must be stable, with rules and order.
But a harmonious society is also full of vitality. This is an ideal
society in which the vitality of labor, knowledge, technology,
management and capital may flourish and flow freely.
Third, a harmonious society means not only harmony between
different interests, but also a harmony in values. It suggests
people living and working in peace and contentment, having good
careers and in high spirits. At the same time, this is a society in
which the majority has a solid awareness of the obligations of
citizens and high ethical standards.
China.org.cn: What gauges can be used to measure a
harmonious society?
Dr. Li: There are some norms we can follow. An important
index for a modernized country is that being a farmer does not
equate to being poor. The fact is, however, that there remains a
large gap in income and benefits between urban and rural areas in
China. Rural China is still home to the majority of low-income and
impoverished people according to international standards.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to relieve poverty while
establishing a social security umbrella to fully cover rural
communities.
There should also be balanced regional development. At present,
regional disparities continue to grow, so we should seek a new
development pattern to halt to that trend. These should include
development of the west, reconstruction of the northeast industrial
region and revitalization of the central region, while accelerating
the development of the eastern and coastal regions.
We must have harmony between different social strata. The gap
between rich and poor has grown in the past decade, resulting in an
increase in conflicts of interest. Some of these have led to social
disorder or hatred. The government should pay close attention to
the relations between the rich and poor, between labor and
management and between the authorities and the ordinary people. It
must make full use of economic leverage, such as budget, taxation
and welfare, to coordinate distribution and redistribution and
expand the middle class while shrinking the low-income group.
A balanced employment structure is necessary. The farming
population accounts for as much as 49 percent of China’s total,
which inevitably hinders the transition to a modern social
structure. It is essential that we move 100 million redundant rural
workers to the cities in 15 years. That means we need to create
more jobs while developing education and organizing occupational
training for more people. The goal is to change China from a big
country in terms of population into a big country in terms of
personnel resources.
Then we come to the harmonious population structure. China’s
family planning policy, which has been carried out for 30 years, is
such a success that net population growth has been reduced to about
8 million per year. However, a new headache has appeared: the
population is aging before the country is developed. The government
must accelerate the establishment of a sound social security system
while improving understanding of values between generations.
Other gauges to be watched are harmony between people and
environment, maintaining political stability through improvement of
the socialist democratic system, curbing corruption and upgrading
management. China should also seek improvement in international
relations to guarantee a good environment for its long-term
development.
China.org.cn: You have talked about
many different areas in which the government must create and
maintain a balance. To what areas do you believe the government
should give priority?
Dr. Li: Yes, the government has quite a lot to do in this
regard, indeed. Urgent tasks include straightening out income
distribution, improving the social security system, better managing
social conflicts, creating more jobs, safeguarding social justice
and building a crisis management system. It is vital for the
government to improve its method of governance by better managing
its relations with the market and with society.
China.org.cn: As the saying goes, you
can please all of the people some of the time and some of the
people all of the time, but you can't please all the people all the
time. In this regard, does the government see a need to build more
flexibility into its plans and policymaking?
Dr. Li: We have seen over time that the kind of reform
that would benefit everyone exists no more. Nevertheless, it’s
still necessary for society to have an institution that provides
help for the disadvantaged and underrepresented groups.
(Li Peilin was born in 1955 in Shandong Province and received
his PhD in 1987 from the Sorbonne in Paris. He is now deputy
director of the Institute of Sociology under the Chinese Academy of
Social Sciences.)
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Wandi Jiang, March 4, 2005)
