Being Middle Class in China

Many studies of the Chinese middle class focus on defining it, and viewing its significance for economic development and its potential for socio-political modernisation.  This book goes beyond such objective approaches and considers middle class people’s subjective understanding and diverse experiences of class.  Based on extensive original research, the book explores who the middle class think they are, what they think about a wide range of socio-economic and socio-political issues, and why they think as they do. The book concludes that a clear class identity and political consciousness have yet to emerge, but that middle class attitudes are best characterised as searching for a balance.