The DOI matches its Crossref record; 50 of the 52 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Chinese path to individualization
Abstract
This article explores the rise of the individual and the consequential individualization of society which should be viewed as a reflexive part of China's state‐sponsored quest for modernity. It traces the origin of the individualization process to the Maoist era, arguing that some collectivist programmes of social engineering and the socialist path of modernization under Maoism ironically resulted in a partial individualization of Chinese society. Examining profound social changes during the three decades of the post‐Mao reforms, the article reveals a number of similarities with the individualization process in Western Europe but also demonstrates some important differences. In the last section, the theoretical implications of the Chinese case in light of Ulrich Beck's theory of individualization and second modernity are discussed.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Individualization in China, like in many other countries, is characterized by profound social transformations such as the increasing legalization of the desires of the individual; the intensification of individual competition; a surge of movements promoting individual rights; and a general shift in the balance between the individual, social groups, and modern institutions of the state.”
From Learning Individualism: Hesse, Confucius, and Pep-Rallies in a Chinese Rural High School (2013) · cites this paper as Yan 2010, 507
In the citing paper
“Sang-Jin Han, Young-Hee Shim, and most poignantly Yunxiang Yan, have argued that individualization is a global trend and therefore is not confined to Western European societies with long established democracies, welfare states, and a notion of the individual as being autonomous.”
From Learning Individualism: Hesse, Confucius, and Pep-Rallies in a Chinese Rural High School (2013) · cites this paper as Yan 2010
Citations
Cites
Risk Society, Towards a New Modernity
Leiss, W., Beck, U., Ritter, M., Lash, S. M., & Wynne, B. (1994) · The Canadian Journal of Sociology · doi:10.2307/3341155 · Cited by 12,553
Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity
Boyd, W. E., Beck, U., & Shrader‐Frechette, K. (1993) · Economic Geography · doi:10.2307/143601 · Cited by 9,278
Modernity and self-identity: self and society in the late modern age
(1992) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.29-3618 · Cited by 5,667
Individualization: Institutionalized Individualism and its Social and Political Consequences
Beck, U., & Beck-Gernsheim, E. (2002) · doi:10.4135/9781446218693 · Cited by 3,529
(2002) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.39-4889 · Cited by 1,742
Desiring China: Experiments in Neoliberalism, Sexuality, and Public Culture
Rofel, L. (2007) · doi:10.1215/9780822389903 · Cited by 1,561
Rightful Resistance in Rural China
O’Brien, K. J., & Li, L. (2006) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511791086 · Cited by 1,114
Communist Neo-Traditionalism: Work and Authority in Chinese Industry
Blecher, M. J. (1987) · Pacific Affairs · doi:10.2307/2759193 · Cited by 982
Young People and Social Change: Individualization and Risk in Late Modernity
Furlong, A., & Cartmel, F. (1997) · Cited by 893
Communist Neo-Traditionalism: Work and Authority in Chinese Industry.
Goldman, P., & Walder, A. G. (1989) · Social Forces · doi:10.2307/2579283 · Cited by 769
Research works printed but not linked: 8
- Fei Xiaotong, 1948, Xiangtu Zhongguo (Folk China)
- Ong Aihwa, 2008, Privatizing China: Socialism from Afar
- Palmer Michael, 2006, Consuming China: Approaches to Cultural Change in Contemporary China
- Wedell‐Wedellsborg Anne, 2010, iChina: The Rise of the Individual in Modern Chinese Society
- Wu Xiaobo, 2007, Jidang sanshinian: Zhongguo qiye 1978–2008
- Yan Yunxiang, 1994, China Review 1994
- Yan Yunxiang, 2010, iChina: The Rise of the Individual in Modern Chinese Society
- Zhou Yongming, 2008, Privatizing China: Socialism from Afar
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 501–600 of 645
Children in ‘Mother At-Home, Father Out’ Families
Murphy, R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108877251.005
Romantic Consumption and Heritage Performance in China
Zhu, Y. (2018) · Amsterdam University Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctv62hftp
Zhang, X. (2020) · Governance and citizenship in Asia · doi:10.1007/978-981-15-1021-2_11
A produção do lugar em Inhassune (sul de Moçambique)
Cassalho, J. D. R. (2020) · doi:10.47749/t/unicamp.2020.1149237
Beck, U., & Grande, E. (2012) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470670590.wbeog583
(2018) · Duke University Press eBooks · doi:10.1215/9781478002376-010
Yang, C. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-10-3987-4_1
Yang, C. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-10-3987-4_4
Murphy, R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108877251.011
Zhu, Y. (2018) · Amsterdam University Press eBooks · doi:10.1515/9789048536825-012
Liu, X., & Burnett, D. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-13-3774-1_12
Chinese Parent-Child Relationships in Later Life in the Context of Social InequalitiesPreprint
Emery, T., Dykstra, P. A., & Djundeva, M. (2018) · doi:10.31235/osf.io/f35nh
(2021) · Mardaga eBooks · doi:10.3917/mard.hanse.2021.01.0359
The Portrayal of Neoliberal Subjects in Chinese People in Africa
Yuqiu, M. (2022) · African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research · doi:10.52589/ajsshr-xferigwd
Zhang, J. (2022) · Antropologia Portuguesa · doi:10.14195/2182-7982_39_5
Vance, C. M., & Bergin, R. (2022) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-6684-7593-5.ch048
Detraditionalisation and Retraditionalisation of Family Lives: Gender, Marriage and Intimacy
Qiu, S. (2022) · Genders and sexualities in the social sciences · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-17250-2_2 · Cited by 1
(2021) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-83909-135-320211004
Homo sexuality, Homonationalism, and Homonormativity
(2023) · Duke University Press eBooks · doi:10.1215/9781478024439-006
Love and Sex as Cruel Optimism
(2023) · Duke University Press eBooks · doi:10.1215/9781478024439-005
Coming Out as Relational Politics
(2023) · Duke University Press eBooks · doi:10.1215/9781478024439-003
(2023) · Duke University Press eBooks · doi:10.1215/9781478024439-009
(2023) · Duke University Press eBooks · doi:10.1215/9781478024439-008
(2023) · Duke University Press eBooks · doi:10.1215/9781478024439-007
Queering Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mainland China
(2023) · Duke University Press eBooks · doi:10.1215/9781478024439-002
(2023) · Duke University Press eBooks · doi:10.1215/9781478024439-010
Tongzhi Commons, Community, and Collectivity
(2023) · Duke University Press eBooks · doi:10.1215/9781478024439-004
(2023) · Duke University Press eBooks · doi:10.1215/9781478024439-001
Wang, Z. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-99-2083-9_6
Influencing Factors of Air-Quality Perception in China: What is Constructed? What is Hidden?
Zeng, X., & Yang, G. (2023) · Vide Leaf, Hyderabad eBooks · doi:10.37247/paenvr2ed.2.23.23
Returning to State Schools? Educational Re-embedding and the Institutional Dilemma
Wang, C. (2023) · Palgrave studies on Chinese education in a global perspective · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-27669-9_6
Conclusion: Individualization with Confucianism
Wang, C. (2023) · Palgrave studies on Chinese education in a global perspective · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-27669-9_8
Individualization, Subjectification, and Confucian Education
Wang, C. (2023) · Palgrave studies on Chinese education in a global perspective · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-27669-9_2
Continuing Confucian Studies? The Individual Self, Sage Discourse, and Parental Authority
Wang, C. (2023) · Palgrave studies on Chinese education in a global perspective · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-27669-9_7
Choosing a Confucian Education: The Rise of Critical Parents
Wang, C. (2023) · Palgrave studies on Chinese education in a global perspective · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-27669-9_3
Chinese Female Return Migrants’ Emotion in the Domestic Sphere
Zhang, Y. (2023) · Scientific and Social Research · doi:10.26689/ssr.v5i7.5114
Guang-xu, J., Zhai, H., Daming, Z., & Lavender, C. (2023) · Ethos · doi:10.1111/etho.12401
Ueta, M. H. (2021) · doi:10.47749/t/unicamp.2021.1237768
Le tourisme de lune de miel en tant que consommation romantique en Chine
Yan, W., Liu, J., & Zhu, Y. (2023) · Via Tourism Review · doi:10.4000/viatourism.10369
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016612.7
Chapter 1. The effectiveness of education locked in myths – “on the other side of the mirror”
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016612.15
Chapter 2. Educational policy and doctoral students in Poland. Idea and reality
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016612.37
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016612.toc
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016612.front
Chapter 5. Episodes in English education reform – fromThatcher to Brexit
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016612.109
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016612.153
Zhang, R., & Kulich, S. J. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-17299-1_357
Social Justice and Digital Citizenship of Chinese Young People
Fu, J., & Lin, K. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-4451-96-3_83-1
Institutionalized Individualism in Post-collectivist China
Constantin, S. V. (2024) · Life course research and social policies · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-57216-6_2
Mao, J. (2024) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781529225877.bm002
Ayertey, S., Laryeafio, M. N., Panditharathna, R., & Banor, M. A. (2024) · Palgrave studies in entrepreneurship and society. · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-34067-3_7
Wu, H. (2025) · Palgrave studies in mediating kinship, representation, and difference. · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-83742-5_6
Wu, H. (2025) · Palgrave studies in mediating kinship, representation, and difference. · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-83742-5_1
Researching the Mediated Structure of Feeling
Wu, H. (2025) · Palgrave studies in mediating kinship, representation, and difference. · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-83742-5_2
The Gendered Ways Families Reduce International Migration and Mobility
Thomas, J. R. (2025) · International Migration Review · doi:10.1177/01979183251329050
William Wainwright's Legacy from A Chinese Perspective
Harrison, V. S. (2025) · Religious Studies Review · doi:10.1111/rsr.17768
Weiß, A. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-39745-6_18
Divorce in a Cultural Context: Marriage Policy Transformations in the Chinese Mainland
Wang, Z., Hämäläinen, J., & Zhao, F. M. (2025) · Family Transitions · doi:10.1080/28375300.2025.2526303 · Cited by 1
Qu, Y. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197774854.002.0005
Qu, Y. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197774854.003.0004
Joining China’s internet politics
Qu, Y. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197774854.003.0006
Qu, Y. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197774854.003.0001
What is it like to be disabled in China?
Qu, Y. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197774854.003.0003
Qu, Y. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197774854.003.0008
Qu, Y. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197774854.002.0006
Working in the digital economy
Qu, Y. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197774854.003.0005
Reconstructing disability identity and culture
Qu, Y. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197774854.003.0007
Qu, Y. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197774854.002.0007
Qu, Y. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197774854.005.0001
Researching complexities in transforming China
Qu, Y. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197774854.003.0002
Qu, Y. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197774854.002.0004
Wang, L., Gao, L., Liu, S., Li, W., & Bai, Y. (2025) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1627096
Hu, A. (2025) · Sociological Forum · doi:10.1111/socf.70030
Xu, Y., Li, D., & Wang, C. (2025) · Journal of Gender Studies · doi:10.1080/09589236.2025.2593925
Public Trust in the Police in China’s Legal Reform Era: an Age-Period-Cohort-Interaction Approach
Lin, S., & Xu, B. (2025) · Asian Journal of Criminology · doi:10.1007/s11417-025-09483-z
Yuan, B., Pi, X., & Wang, X. (2025) · British Journal of Sociology of Education · doi:10.1080/01425692.2025.2596926
Social, Educational, and Familial Transformations of Urban Youth in Post-reform China
Wang, Z. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-95-4426-4_2
Doing Family for Educational Transition
Wang, Z. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-95-4426-4_5
Wang, Z. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-95-4426-4_1
Negotiating Permission to Dance: Care-Embedded Serious Leisure in Urban China
Li, S. (2026) · Leisure Sciences · doi:10.1080/01490400.2026.2614383
Li-ju, L., Luo, F., Zong, W., Fa-wen, H., Liao, W.-Z., & Ding, Y. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1722048
(2026) · Frontiers research topics · doi:10.3389/978-2-8325-7404-1
Critical Sociabilities beyond the Private
Eramian, L., & Mallory, P. (2026) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009772822.007
Xu, M. (2026) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009772822.009
Gao, S., & Zhao, L. (2026) · Chinese Sociological Review · doi:10.1080/21620555.2026.2625092
How Students do Policy: Policy Enactments of Chinese Elite University Students
Liu, H. (2026) · Queensland University of Technology · doi:10.5204/thesis.eprints.263538
Yin, I. Z., Miao, X., Jiang, Y., Yin, Y., & Siu, K. W. M. (2025) · International Association of Societies of Design Research Congress (IASDR) · doi:10.21606/iasdr.2025.123
Queer Resistance: Contesting State, Family, and Inequality in Post-Socialist China
Choi, S. Y. P. (2026) · University of California Press eBooks · doi:10.1525/luminos.279
Gong, J., Xia, C., Wei, X., Zhang, X., Xiong, Y., Hu, N., Sang, B., & Liu, J. (2026) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2026.113793
Parental authority and marital outcomes: a comparative analysis between China and Japan
Chen, M., & Yip, P. (2026) · Journal of Family Studies · doi:10.1080/13229400.2026.2651107
Par-delà les sentiments : l'oeuvre de Han Dong 韩 东, une écriture de la Chine contemporaine
Coursault, S. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/10e8c373z31e5z47c0zb153ze3e08ac9b7aa
Arciniegas-Rozo, L. (2019) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/719ca107z1eb5z4a65za672zdf5fbe91037c
Metadata
- Authors
- Yan, Y.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Yan, Yunxiang
- ORCID
- Yan, Yunxiang
- Venue
- The British Journal of Sociology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-09
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 489-512
- ISSN
- 0007-1315 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-4446
- OpenAlex
- W1789051580
- Cited by
- 639
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 61 · 2025: 66 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 50 · 2020: 64 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 52 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 101.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- British Journal of Sociology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Modernity and Self-Identity
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Chinese history and philosophy
- Keywords
- individualization, Chinese society, modernization, Maoism, collectivism, social engineering, post-Mao reforms, Ulrich Beck, second modernity, Western Europe comparison, individual and state
- MeSH terms
- China, Employment, Humans, Individuality, Politics, Self Concept, Social Change, Social Environment, Socialism, Personal Autonomy, History, 20th Century
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
