STRATIFICATION DYNAMICS UNDER STATE SOCIALISM - THE CASE OF URBAN CHINA, 1949-1993

Previous studies of stratification under state socialism have emphasiz ed the institutional structure of redistributive economies. This artic le stresses the importance of the state and political mechanisms. We a rgue that individual life chances under state socialism are extremely sensitive to political processes, especially shifts in state policies, and that changes in state policies can dramatically alter opportunity structures, the status of structural locations, and the nature and va lue of political and human capital. Therefore, effects of these charac teristics on life chances often vary across historical periods and ove r an individual's life course. Supporting evidence comes from a study of labor force entry and Communist Party membership in urban China fro m 1949 to 1993 based on life histories for samples of residents in Bei jing and Shanghai.