Institutional Changes and Perceived Tension between Classes in Contemporary Urban China: Evidence from Survey Data

摘要

This thesis studies the perceived tension between classes in contemporary urban China using the 1992 urban survey data. By investigating people¡¯s class identification and perceived class tension, I find that middle class identification exists widely in urban Chinese society and the perceived class tension is not strong enough to threaten the existing political regime and social stability, or to push further reforms and the progress of democratization. My findings provide some explanations to the two puzzles that have confused researchers of China studies: persistence of non-democratic political institutions despite robust economic development, and persistence of regime stability despite increasing social inequality.