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Structural Characteristics Of The Problem Of Beggars In Modern Chinese Cities And Study Of Its Causation

Posted on:2008-12-29Degree:DoctorType:Dissertation
Country:ChinaCandidate:X R LuFull Text:PDF
GTID:1116360218460620Subject:Sociology
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
Since the 1980s, along with all-round reform of the economic and social structure and its development in depth, China has undergone a good many changes in political, economic, ideological, cultural fields and so on. During this period of social transition, the market-oriented resource allocation model, urban and rural social management system, as well as the changes of the policies at almost all levels, led to the realignment of the interest structure and the group structure of the whole community and resulted in aggravation of social polarization and increase of disadvantaged groups. In many fields, the corresponding new system and new rules are not yet perfect and adapt to the new changes, while the old social order, value criteria and moral system are invalidity or become disorganized. The friction between the new and old systems, the unbalanced development of social reform in every field lead to a number of new social conflicts, abnormal phenomena and social problems inevitably. The problems of urban beggars which are perplexing and controversial in today's China just arise out of this background.The basic subject of this study is the problem of urban beggars in today's China. This dissertation is trying to explore its essence and mechanism of formation through the complex phenomenon of begging. In the understanding of the concept, we treat the problem of urban beggars as a series of social contradictions and conflicts triggered by beggars' engendering, existing and their performing. From an overall perspective, the problems of beggars are complex, not only involving the practical living hardship of the beggar groups, whether the choices are correctly made in survival mode for certain individuals and groups, whether the actions are deviance, but involving various social conflicts and urban management problems arisen from the influx of beggars. From a structural point of view, the problem of beggars also shows a obvious characteristic of level, from the individual to the family, from the government to society, from the material interests to mental values, from the formal rules and regulations, laws and policies to the informal customs, and cultural norms, all these permeate the trace of "problem". In other words, this study treats the problems of beggars as "problem cluster" which center on the beggars and their begging actions.It is the key point for analyzing the problems of beggars to pursue the personal and social significance of the begging action combining with the characteristic and its functions of begging action. As a means of instinct survival, begging is permitted by the government and our social cultural to some extent and become somebody's " last straw" when government and institution is "breach of duty" and invalidation, while some people are in hot water and have no other way and feel helpless. From the functional mechanism of begging action, beggars neither rely on the government and social organizations, nor on family or friends, relatives, instead, they take to the streets to seek assistance, which is obviously different from other formal means of social relief. In the original sense, we could regard it as a special survival form combining self-help with the rescue which plays a positive role in preventing someone from making a reckless move and maintaining social stability. However, the phenomenon of begging, after all, is non-normal and negative. According to different standards, this dissertation will analyze all kinds of consequences caused by it.There are three aspects to discuss this problem: Firstly, based on abundant information, through analyzing constitute of the beggar groups, means of begging and their behaviors, this dissertation describes, summarizes and analyzes the performance of the urban begging and the structure of beggar groups. Secondly, this dissertation tries to clarify this problem. The problem of beggars has intricate connotation, different people will make different judges from different positions and perspectives. How to determine the nature of current urban beggar problems not only influence the attitude of social to the beggars, but provide basis of government draw up relative policies. Following the principles of objective, equity and independence, by means of analyzing the information reflected by social public, this dissertation try to open out the essence and connation of the contemporary urban beggar problems. Finally, this dissertation systematically discusses the reasons for the beggar problems and analyzes the relationship between the family crisis and the beggar problems emphatically.The problem of urban beggars comes into being in the period of social transformation after reform and opening-up. Logically, we put forward a general question: Before reform and opening-up, China's overall economic development was much worse, but why did not the city take place a serious problem? As we know, with the rapid urbanization and transformation, the environment and conditions facing the beggar problems, the social relations and interest conflict embodied in these problems, all these have undergone profound changes from the elements to the structure which have infused new ideas for the lately beggar problems, greatly expanded the originally function of relief and enriched the connotations of beggar problems. According to the explanation of structural functionalism, as a non-normal social phenomenon, begging means imbalances and asymmetries of the social operating system and the condition and motive of which must related to the social system, institution, policies and value culture of the day, such as planned economy, average allotment, barracks between urban and rural, ideological and moral standards, concept of value, low population flow, some measures controlled on the beggars that had played a inhibiting role in the beggar problems. Owing to above-mentioned consideration, while probing into various push factors, inhibition factors and conditional factors that influenced the begging action, this dissertation pays full concern on all kinds of disorganization and anomie phenomena in the relationship structure, policy system, ideological and cultural and other aspects during the period of China's social transformation, tries to dig out the function trace that social disorganization phenomena put on the beggar problems and thus to find out an academic explanation for cause mechanism of the current beggar problems.Applying the theoretical framework of social disorganization, from all forms of begging phenomena and numbers of begging cases, through the analysis of the interests, values, contradictions, conflicts and incidents in the interactive process between the beggars and cities, this dissertation tries to reveal the characteristics of China's current urban begging phenomena and the essential connotation of this so-called "problem", based on which, to sum up institutional causes of the beggar problems. This dissertation demonstrates emphatically that the social anomie and disorganization phenomena appearing in social institution, social structure, ideology and culture, concept of value during the period of social transformation have put tremendous impact on China's family and led to some crisis in family function. The family is a social basic cell and it is the vital point contact society with individuals. Just these function crisis constantly push numbers of families to "export" beggars towards society. Hence, this dissertation put forward that the cutting-in point resolving the beggar problems lies in letting family to shoulder responsibility. Through perfecting related institution and strengthening supervise, the family is made to have actual ability to take on corresponding responsibility.
Keywords/Search Tags:Begging, Beggar, Problems of Beggars, Social Disorganization, Family crisis
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