Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Public Opinion and Social Justice in China

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of Chinese Political Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

China’s rise has not only propelled China to be the second-largest economy in the world but also produced an increasing socio-economic inequality that undermines the legitimacy of the socialist political system. What do people think of social inequality and social justice? To understand the public attitudes towards the issue of social justice, this article develops a typology of public opinion and social justice to study how people look at social justice in China. A public survey was conducted and analyzed. Our research shows that people tend to use their subjective belief system to view social justice. We find that overall public opinion focuses more on distributional justice and less than procedure fairness. We also find an increasing number of young people who began to pay more attention to policy-making processes and procedural justice. This finding may have an important implication for policymaking as the Chinese government seeks to reduce social instability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. John Rawls used a social contract argument to show that justice, and especially distributive justice, is a form of fairness.

  2. The relationship between belief and perception is a matter of academic debate. Some equated perception to belief, and others tried to prove that perception involves in certain aspects of personal experience or sensation. See, Smith, A. D. 2001. Perception and Belief. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 62 (2): 283–309.

  3. Research has shown that procedural justice can affect young people’s perception of rule of law. See, Saarikkomäki, E. 2016. Perceptions of Procedural Justice Among Young People: Narratives of Fair Treatment in Young People’s Stories of Police and, Security Guard Interventions. British Journal of Criminology 56(6): 1253–1271.

  4. Studies found that the role of socioeconomic status generally influences political participation. See Nelson, D. C. 1979. Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status as Sources of Participation: The Case of Ethnic Political Culture. American Political Science Review 73: 1024–1038.

References

  1. Adams, J.S. 1965. Inequity in social exchange. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology 2: 267–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Augustine. 1993. On Free Choice of the Will trans. Thomas Williams. Indianapolis: Hackett.

  3. Barry, B. 1989. Theories of Justice. Berkeley: University Press of California.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  4. Berinsky, A.J., and G.S. Lenz. 2011. Education and Political Participation: Exploring the Causal Link. Political Behavior 33: 357–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Beitz, C.R. 2019. Fifty Years of Global Justice: Five Theses. Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences 12: 177–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bian, Y. 1994. Work and Inequality in Urban China. Albany: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Capeheart, L., and Milovanovic, D. 2007. Social Justice: Theories, Issues, and Movements. Rutgers University Press.

  8. Cropanzano R. S., and Maureen L. Ambrose, M.L. 2015. The Oxford Handbook of Justice in the Workplace. Bibliographic Information.

  9. Fincher, L.H. 2014. Leftover Women: The Resurgence of Gender Inequality in China. New York: Zed Book.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  10. Fleischacker, S. 2004. A Short History of Distributive Justice. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Frohlich, N., J.A. Oppenheimer, and C.L. Eavey. 1987. Choices of Principles of Distributive Justice in Experimental Groups. American Journal of Political Science 31 (3): 606–636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Gillet, B., and H. Holbig. 2009. The Debate on Party Legitimacy in China: A mixed quantitative/qualitative analysis. Journal of Contemporary China 18 (59): 339–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Goodin, R. 2004. Democracy, Justice, and Impartiality. In Justice and Democracy: Essays for Brian Barry, ed. K. Dowding, R. Goodin, and C. Pateman. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Goodlad, R., and S. Riddell. 2005. Social Justice and Public Policy. Social Policy and Society 4 (1): 107–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Greenberg, J. 2001. Setting the Justice Agenda: Seven Unanswered Questions about “What, Why, and How.” Journal of Vocational Behavior 58: 210–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Guo, B. 2010. China’s Quest for Political Legitimacy: The New Equity-Enhancing Politics. Lanham: Lexington Books.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Guo, S., X. Lin, J.M. Coicaud, et al. 2019. Conceptualizing and Measuring Global Justice: Theories, Concepts, Principles and Indicators. Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences 12: 511–546.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Hafer, C., and L. Begue. 2005. Experimental Research on Just-World Theory: Problems, Developments, and Future Challenges. Psychological Bulletin 1: 128–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hobbes, T. 1994. In Leviathan, ed. E. Curley. Hackett: Indianapolis.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Hsu, S.P., Y. Wu, and S. Zhao, eds. 2011. In Search of China’s Developmental Model: Beyond the Beijing Consensus. Milton Park: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Huseman, R.C., J.D. Hatfield, and E.W. Miles. 1987. A New Perspective on Equity Theory: The Equity Sensitivity Construct. The Academy of Management Review 12 (2): 222–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Im, D. 2014. The legitimation of inequality: Psychosocial dispositions, education and attitudes toward income inequality in China. Sociological Perspectives 4: 506–525.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Jackson, B. 2005. The Conceptual History of Social Justice. Political studies Review 3: 356–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Jones, G.S. 2004. An End to Poverty? A Historical Debate. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kant, I. 1999. Metaphysical Elements of Justice, trans. John Ladd. Indianapolis: Hackett.

  26. Kraus, M.W., J.W. Park, and J.X. Tan. 2017. Signs of Social Class: The Experience of Economic Inequality in Everyday Life. Perspectives on Psychological Science 12: 422–435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Li, L., L. Tang, and G. Qin. 2012. Huan bujun, geng huan bugong-zhuanxing de “gongpinggan” yu “chongtugan” [“Fear of Inequality, But More Fear of Unfairness”: Sense of Fairness and Consciousness of Conflict in the Period of Social Transformation]. Journal of Renmin University of China 26 (4): 80–90.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Li, S., H. Sato, and T. Sicular. 2013. Rising Inequality in China: Challenges to a Harmonious Society. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  29. Liao, X. 2017. Study on Traditional Culture Foundation of Social Justice in Contemporary China [Dangdai zhongguo shehui gongping sixiang de chuantong wenhua jichu tanxi ]. Innovation 3: 49–56.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Lind, E.A., and T. Tyler. 1988. The Social Psychology of Procedural Justice. New York: Plenum Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  31. Liu, Q. 2019. Equal Rights Versus Equal Needs: Global Justice or Global Virtues? Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences 12: 275–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Liu, X., Z. Chen, and Y. Zhao. 2012. Chengxu gongzheng xianyu huobi buchang: Nongmin zhengdi manyidu de jueding [The Procedural Fairness Prior to the Monetary Compensation: The Determinants of the Degree of Farmers’ Satisfaction at Levying their Land]. Management World 2: 44–51.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Lu, H. 2015. Tongxiang jiti zhilu [Path to Collectivism]. Beijing: Social Science Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Meng, T. 2012. Zhuanxingqi zhongguo gongzhong de fenpei gongpinggan: Jieguo gongping yu jihui gongping [Chinese people’s perception of distributive justice in transitional China: Outcome justice and opportunity justice]. Chinses Journal of Sociology 6: 108–134.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Miller, D. 1999. Principles of Social Justice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Nathan, A., and T. Shi. 1993. Cultural Requisites for Democracy in China: Findings from a Survey. Daedalus 2: 95–123.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Nee, V. 1989. Theory of Market Transition: From Redistribution to Markets in State Socialism. American Sociological Review 5: 663–681.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Nee, V. 1996. The Emergence of a Market Society: Changing Mechanisms of Stratification in China. The American Journal of Sociology 4: 908–949.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Persson, M. 2015. Education and political participation. British Journal of Political Science 45: 689–703.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Pye, L. 1992. The Spirit of Chinese Politics. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Raphael, D.D. 2001. Concepts of Justice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Rawls, J. 1971. A Theory of Justice. Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  43. Rawls, J. 1999. A Theory of Justice. Cambridge: The Belknap press of Harvard University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  44. Scott, J, C. 1977. The Moral Economy of the Peasant. Yale University Press.

  45. Sicular, T., X. Yue, B. Gustafsson, and L. Shi. 2006. The urban–rural income gap and inequality in china. Review of Income & Wealth 53: 93–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Stiglitz, J.E. 2012. The Price of Inequality: How today’s Divided Society Endangers Future. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Tan, Q. 2002. Growth Disparity in China: Provincial Causes. Journal of Contemporary China 11: 735–759.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Tan, Q. 2006. Village Elections in China: Democratizing the Countryside. New York: Edward Mellon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Tan, Q., Liu, J., and Dang, Y. (forthcoming) Local Strategy for China’s Poverty Alleviation Campaign: Incorporating Growth Priorities in Implementation. Political Science Quarterly.

  50. Thibaut, J., and L. Walker. 1975. Procedural justice: A psychological analysis. Hillsdale: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Tyler, T. 2000. Social Justice: Outcome and Procedure. International Journal of Psychology 35: 117–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Tyler, T. 2006. Why People Obey the Law. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  53. Tyler, T., K.A. Rasinski, and N. Spodick. 1985. Influence of voice on satisfaction with leaders: Exploring the meaning of process control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 48 (1): 72–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Walster, E., G.W. Walster, and E. Berscheid. 1978. Equity: Theory and research. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Wang, F. 2008. Boundaries and Categories: Rising Inequality in Post-Socialist Urban China. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Wang, X., and F. Gang. 2004. Zhongguo diqu chaju:Ershinian bianhua q shi he ying xiang yinsu [The Regional Gap in China: Trends of the past two decades and influence factor]. Beijing: Economic Science Press.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Whyte, M.K. 2010. One country, Two Societies: Rural-urban inequality in contemporary China. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  58. Whyte, M.K. 2010. Myth of the Social Volcano: Perceptions of Inequality and Distributive Injustice in Contemporary China. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Whyte, M.K., and D. Im. 2014. Is Social Volcano still Dormant? Trends in Chinese Attitudes toward Inequality. Social Science Research 48: 62–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Wu, X. 2002. Work Units and Income Inequality: The Effect of Market Transition in Urban China. Social Forces 3: 1069–1099.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Wu, X. 2009. Income Inequality and Distributive Justice: A Comparative Analysis of Mainland China and Hong Kong. The China Quarterly 200: 1033–1052.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Wu, X., and D.J. Treiman. 2007. Inequality and Equality under Chinese Socialism: The HuKou System and Intergenerational Occupational Mobility. American Journal of Sociology 2: 415–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Xin, H., and L. Guo. 2012. Research of Women Graduates’ Employment and Perceived Social Justice. [Nü daxuesheng jiuye yali yu shehui gongpinggan de yanjiu’]. Zhongguo Jiankang Xinlixue Zazhi. China Journal of Health Pschology 6: 912–913.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Xinhua. 2012. China Gini coefficient at 0.474 in 2012. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2013-01/18/content_16140018.htm. Accessed 28 September 2018.

  65. Yu, B. 2009. The Politics of Social Harmony: Ruling Strategy and Health Care Policy in Hu’s China. Asian Politics & Policy 1: 186–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Yu, X. 2010. Renshi Zhongguo de bupingdeng [Understanding inequality in China]. Chinese Journal of Sociology 3: 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Zhang, G., and W. Liu. 2008. Zhong chengxu haishi zhong jieguo?—daxuesheng gongpinggan de shizheng yanjiu [Outcome or procedure?——an empirical study on college students’ fairness feeling]. Youth Studies 1: 33–40.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Zhang, G., J.R. Wilking, and M. Yu. 2010. Zhongguo nongmin de gongping guannian: Ji yu cunweihui xuanju diaocha de shizheng yanjiu [Chinese farmers’ perception of justice: An empirical analysis of a survey report on village elections]. Sociological Study 1: 64–84.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Zhang, H. 2004. Chengshi jumin dui shehui bu pingdeng xianxiang taidu de yanjiu -yi changchunshi diao cha weili [Urban residents’ attitudes toward social inequality-a case of Changchun]. Sociological Study 6: 11–22.

    Google Scholar 

  70. Zhang, M. 2013. Zhongguoren xiangyao shenmeyang minzhu [What democracy does Chinese Want]. Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Zhao, D. 2014. Heilongjiang kenqu jumin shehui gongping xintai de diaocha baogao [Investigative report on the residents’ attitudes toward social justice in the reclamation community of Heilongjiang]. In Zhongguo shehui xintai yanjiu baogao (Research Report on Social Mentality in China), ed. J. Wang and Y. Yang. Beijing: Social Science Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research is funded by the Chinese National Social Science Fund (18AZZ004).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Urban Economics and Public Administration, Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing, China

    Baobin Ma & Ping Du

  2. Kuang Yaming Visiting, Jilin University, Changchun, China

    Qingshan Tan

  3. Department of Political Science, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA

    Qingshan Tan

Authors
  1. Baobin Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Qingshan Tan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ping Du
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qingshan Tan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ma, B., Tan, Q. & Du, P. Public Opinion and Social Justice in China. J OF CHIN POLIT SCI 27, 619–636 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11366-021-09761-4

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11366-021-09761-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation