Fundamental changes have taken place in China in ownership and control of, as well as access to livelihood assets in the context of transition and globalisation. This book examines the political economy of China's rural livelihoods transformations during the past three decades and in contemporary China. It probes the dynamics, be they local, national or global, which affect rural livelihoods, in particular livelihood security, mobility, diversity, and sustainability. The book explores the transition to a market economy accompanied by extensive and rapid societal change, together with the sharp increase in geographical and social mobility going hand in hand with the unprecedented pace of industrialisation and urbanisation. This has brought about not only wealth and opportunities, but environmental damage and depletion of natural resources, undermining social resilience and generating new risks to national food security. Experimentation and utilisation of new science and technology involve new challenges to production, conservation and sustainability, engendering greater uncertainty, vulnerability and livelihood insecurity among Chinese farmers, in particular the poor.The fundamental changes in employment patterns, welfare regimes and social provisioning, combined with widening inequalities and evolving social stratification have contributed to a deepening social division and generating new forms of poverty and vulnerability, - all impinge upon and serve to reshape livelihoods, and social relations, organisations and practices. This book stimulates research, policy and practice debates on the impact and implications of the emerging challenges for the rural population, their livelihoods, welfare and well-being. The book presents cutting-edge research based on empirical evidence and offers multi- and cross-disciplinary perspectives from development studies, economics, sociology, political science, and environmental sciences.

In recent decades, China has undergone rapid economic growth, industrialisation and urbanisation concomitant with deep and extensive structural and social change, profoundly reshaping the country's development landscape and urban-rural relationships. This book applies livelihoods approaches to deepen our understanding of the changes and continuities related to rural livelihoods within the wider context of political economy of development in post-socialist China, bridging the urban and rural scenarios and probing the local, national and global dynamics that have impacted on livelihood, in particular its mobility, security and sustainability. Presenting theoretically informed and empirically grounded research by leading scholars from across the world, this book offers multidisciplinary perspectives on issues central to rural livelihoods, development, welfare and well-being. It documents and analyses the processes and consequences of change, focusing on social protection of mobile livelihoods, particularly rural migrants' citizenship rights in the city, and the environmental, social and political aspects of sustainability in the countryside. This book contributes to the current scholarly and policy debates, and is among the first attempts to critically reflect on China's market transition and the associated pathways to change. It will be of interest to students in international development studies, China studies, social policy, public health, political science, and environmental studies at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as academics, policy makers and practitioners who are concerned with China's human and social development in general, and agriculture and rural livelihoods in particular.

Economic transition in China has witnessed (re)centralization of resources from the margin to the core in economic, social and political senses. This book employs a marginalization lens to reveal, delineate and better understand the processes, patterns, trends, multiple dimensions and dynamics of the phenomenon, and the consequences and implications for development and well-being in the country. Bringing together a wide range of domestic and international experts and disciplinary perspectives, the book combines empirical research and conceptual analysis to provide an insightful overview of China's recent development. It contributes to the debate over marginalization and its interactions with globalization and transition in China, and has significance for various domestic and international policy arenas in respect of tackling marginalization, poverty and social exclusion effectively while striving for the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals in China and beyond.

Economic transition in China has witnessed (re)centralization of resources from the margin to the core in economic, social and political senses. This book employs a marginalization lens to reveal, delineate and better understand the processes, patterns, trends, multiple dimensions and dynamics of the phenomenon, and the consequences and implications for development and well-being in the country. Bringing together a wide range of domestic and international experts and disciplinary perspectives, the book combines empirical research and conceptual analysis to provide an insightful overview of China's recent development. It contributes to the debate over marginalization and its interactions with globalization and transition in China, and has significance for various domestic and international policy arenas in respect of tackling marginalization, poverty and social exclusion effectively while striving for the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals in China and beyond.