The Impact Of New Education System On The Social And Political Development In Modern China

This dissertation attempts to study on the impact of new education system on the social order and political development in modern China through a comparative analysis of Hunan Province and Zhejiang Province. It is hard to evaluate the influence that the education reform exerts on the modernization. In the modern China, reformists prioritized the establishment of modern education system. They hoped this new system could produce well trained elites for the rapid modernization, and shaped citizens with high quality to be members in a democracy. The new education system, however, failed to achieve either of them. One function of universal education is social mobilization, which however is always overlooked. It serves to weaken the validity of inequality in traditional society. Therefore, the impact of education reform depends upon the level of economic development and the degree of institutionalization and participation in political field. The political system of modern China is characterized as instability, and less institutionalization, low degree of participation. The national economy developed slowly. Besides, the gap between the coastal cities and large rural area was serious. This situation was unable to provide conditions for health social mobility. At the same time, the change of value and personal expectation was fast because of the extension of new education system. Due to the rich resources and potentials, Gentry Class could transformed to be new elites. The higher education, particularly the overseas education, provided them accesses to achieving their expectation successfully. Nonetheless, the majority of students who never had opportunity to enter the civil service examination system but were incorporated into new education system were not as fortunate as the Gentry Class. They couldn't be absorbed by the market or the bureaucracy or higher education institutions. Nor did they have access to meeting their increased personal expectation. This marginalized group experienced disillusion and disappointment. They had enmity toward the existing governments, who, in certain conditions would challenge the social order and even overthrow the regime. Hunan Province represented the rural area in modern China, while Zhejiang province locates in the prosperous coastal area.There were striking differences on the economic levels, political conditions and social structures between these two provinces. Accordingly, the comparison on Zhejiang Province and Hunan Province could release the crucial factors to explain why and how the new education system lead to social instability and revolution in modern China.