Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2017, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (5): 78-104.

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State Policy Strategy:The Political Elements in Agricultural Technology Adaptation——A Case Study in Minority Region

QIANG Ge   

  1. Department of Party Building, Party School of the Central Committee of C. P. C
  • Online:2017-09-20 Published:2017-09-20
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by the National Social Science Fund Youth Project "the Study on Tibetan Agriculture Development and Social Stability"(15CZZ042).

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Abstract:

The promotion of winter wheat was the main achievement of the Tibetan moderation in the 1970's. Wheat, which was barely planted, had become the second largest crop in Tibet. Puzzlingly, Tibetan peasants, who had initially strongly resisted winter wheat, had become active practitioners in just two or three years. In this process, how did the state deal with the resistance of Tibetan peasants and change their ideas? Based on documents and oral history material, this paper argues that, it was political movement that played a key role. Firstly, the class struggle was a crackdown to the resistance to new technology, and also promoted the differentiation of the rural community, mutual supervision among peasants made the "weapons of the weak" become impossible. Secondly, the political movement also functioned as the emotional mobilization. Winter wheat was portrayed as a symbol of emancipated serfs, thus inspired a high degree of political identity and passion among peasants. Based on empirical study, the theoretical contribution of this paper was, bring Tibetan peasants as active actor into the analytical framework of governance. Studying the interaction of the state and Tibetan peasants contributes to our understanding of New China's Tibetan governance. This analytical framework also emphasized:Firstly, Tibetan culture was not an ontological special culture. We must use the principle of universality to understanding the different minority culture. Secondly, the state was not a stranger outsider in Tibet. It got familiar with Tibetan culture and society, knew about the ideas and interests of Tibetan peasants. Additionally, political movement also had negatively impact on Tibetan agricultural. It caused serious Tibetan food crisis in the late 1970s.

Key words: class struggle, promotion of winter wheat, Tibetan peasants, political movement