Change And Development

Under the guidance of Marxism and other related theories of anthropology, ethnology and sociology concerning social and cultural transformation, the author of this dissertation focuses upon problems faced by Chinese minority groups in the process of modernization at present time, and that is also why a small Blang community in XiShuangBanNa of Yunnan province was chosen as an object of study. Through the analysis and retrospection of great changes and development of this Blang community in 50 years, the author describes thoroughly the changes taken in the period of social transformation. In addition, the inevitable conflicts between traditions and modern civilization are analyzed profoundly in the dissertation, and methods and suggestions to deal with some specific problems are also proposed.The dissertation comprises four chapters. Chapter one gives a brief review to the history, cultural system of mountainous cultivation and geographic environment of Blang ethnic group living in Blang hill in Yunnan province, and the author further points out that the construction and formation of this peculiar cultural system should be the historical foundation for the social structure and cultural peculiarities of Blang ethnic group.Chapter two analyzes changes of political institutions of Blang society after the foundation of People's Republic of China. The author points out that the Blang society transits directly from primitive stage to socialism. With the implementation of reform policy on village reinforced by the Chinese communist party, the traditional political and administrative institutions withdrew from the dominant position in political life of Blang society, and they were replaced by new type of community organization under the guidance of the communist partysupported by most of the people. Thus, the state of self-governance of the Blang society before the foundation of the PRC existed no more, hence the consequent transformation of its social institution and structure.Chapter three makes an inspection on changes in conventional mode of production of Blang society, and the author points out that relations of production and productive forces of Blang society in Blang hill has changed drastically after 50 years of construction under the direction of new social and economical policies, and the living standard of the people has been greatly enhanced and improved. However, we should notice at the same time that there still preserved some primitive modes of production and backward ways of life nowadays because of the impact of various factors such as history, geographic location, natural environment. Furthermore, the author stresses that the replacement of traditional mode of production must presuppose its adaptability to local society, culture and environment of the ethnic group.Chapter four thoroughly analyzes the ongoing transformation of their attitudes toward love and marriage, education, birth and religion. In addition, the author makes an inspection on the influence which comes outside but causes great changes on their viewpoints, and the author come up with in this part some suggestions in accordance with different problems occurring in the process of development and transformation.In the part of conclusion, the author summarizes in the perspective of anthropology and ethnology the political institution, mode of production, economic structure and ideological culture of minority ethnic groups, and the conclusion is made on the basis of field work and case study.