Shift Of Suzhou Land-losing Farmers' Roles In The Process Of Urbanization

Urbanization, sign of human progress, is becoming more and more a core part of economic & social development of a country. China's urbanization level has reached 37% and is now at a fast-developing stage. According to past experience in the West, it is predicted that in the two decades to come, China's urbanization level will reach 65-70%, changing 500-700 million farmers into urban residents, which is an unprecedented and important shift in China's social structure.In Suzhou, one of the fastest-developing areas with the highest level of urbanization since the Reform and Opening-up, in 2001, Suzhou's urbanization level has reached 57.82% , the number of land-losing farmers has increased dramatically. Though as urban residents, they are now in a difficult situation of "land-less and jobless", without effective job-finding support or complete social security. They find it very difficult to feel at ease with the ideology, way of life, personal relations and social contacts.This essay, applying the theories on urbanization and social roles, drawing on the successful experience of developed countries, and combining the actual conditions of Suzhou, tries to inquire into the shift of Suzhou land-losing farmers' roles in the process of urbanization.