Chinese Journal of Sociology

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Family Backgrounds and the Attainment of Cadre Positions (1950-2003)

Author: Sun Ming, Department of Sociology, School of Political Science & International Relations, Postdoctoral Research Station of Architecture, Tongji University.   

  1. Author: Sun Ming, Department of Sociology, School of Political Science & International Relations, Postdoctoral Research Station of Architecture, Tongji University.
  • Online:2011-09-20 Published:2011-09-20
  • Contact: Sun Ming, Department of Sociology, School of Political Science & International Relations, Postdoctoral Research Station of Architecture, Tongji University. E-mail:SunmingSoc@gmail.com
  • About author:Sun Ming, Department of Sociology, School of Political Science & International Relations, Postdoctoral Research Station of Architecture, Tongji University. 
  • Supported by:

    This research was funded by the Education Ministry’s Key Subject Research Project “China’s Current Social Class Study” (08JZD0024) and National Social Science Foundation “Income Distribution and Social Justice Study” (06BSH049).

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Abstract:

Based on the Chinese General Social Survey 2003 (CGSS2003), the author used the general capital theory and institutional analysis to examine the mechanisms of how family backgrounds affected the attainment of cadre positions before and after the reform by the eventtracing method. The findings show that: (1) In the prereform Mao era (1950-1977), the offspring of PLA (People’s Liberation Army) families capitalized on their good family origin to enjoy the highest likelihood to be cadres, with becoming a CCP (Chinese Communist Party) member as the intermediate mechanism; and (2)After the reform (1978-2003), the offspring of cadres and the intellectuals had the advantage in attaining cadre positions, and the intermediate mechanisms for that to happen were education and CCP membership. Moreover, even with these two variables controlled, the family background of either middle or high cadre status still had a significant statusreproducing effect.

 

Key words: family background ,   cadre recruitment ,   capital ,   institution