Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2011, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (2): 125-154.

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Pursuing Change or Maintaining the Status Quo? Measurement of the Sociopolitical Attitudes of the Middle Class  

Li Chunling, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences     

  1.   Li Chunling, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences  
  • Online:2011-03-21 Published:2011-03-21
  • Contact: Li Chunling, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences E-mail:licl@cass. org. cn
  • About author:Li Chunling, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences 
  • Supported by:

    The research was supported by the project “Situation and Trend of Middle Cdass in Chinese Society” of National Social Sciences Foundation(10BSH011).

Abstract:

This paper is to examine the sociopolitical attitudes of the middle class in China and thereby predict the sociopolitical role of the middle class. The key issue is whether the emerging middle class in China is a stabilizer for or a threat to the existing social system. Using a national survey dataset of 2006, the author developed a set of attitude scales to differentiate the major attitudinal features of the political conservatives from those of the political liberals in the analysis of the attitudinal trend of the middle class. The study found diversity in the values of the middle class, showing a mixture of conservatism and liberalism. China’s middle class is certainly a stabilizing force at present but there are uncertain factors that may affect its future role. 