China’s Social Transition and Social Welfare Reform

Abstract

“Commonly benefitted” is an important guiding principle for China to proceed with the social transition, and equality is the national core value during this transitional period. Since China launched the reform and opening up in 1978, the construction of a social welfare system was initiated to serve the socialist market economy, and the market-oriented reform has dyed the welfare construction a strong color of liberalism for a long time. But at present, China is replacing or has replaced the single goal of economic prosperity with the multiple goals of political democracy and social construction.

Han Keqing, 1999, Commonly benefited: An important principle for China’s social development, Journal of Literature, History & Philosophy, Issue 6; Han Keqing, 2005, State and market: Dual driving forces for social stratification during economic globalization, Journal of Scientific Socialism, Issue 1; Han Keqing, 2002, Sociological analysis of the idea of equality in present China, Journal of Huaiyin Teachers College (Social Sciences Edition), Issue 1.