Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.8, 2013

China’s Household System Tradition and Rural Development Road: With Reference to Village Commune Tradition in Russia and India

(Abstract)

Xu Yong

Primitive traditions that can produce far-reaching impact on modern society constitute the fundamental system of modern social development. In the primitive traditions of oriental countries, the Chinese household system is different from the Russian or Indian village commune system. And on that basis, China has developed its own unique road of rural development. These include: the agricultural operation organizations based on household operations, the agro-industrial-commercial complementary economy based on agricultural, industrial and commercial integration within the households, the rural cooperation forms based on mutual help and cooperation among households, as well as the rural governance system based on shared governance of the households and the state. Although the household system had been abandoned for some time in the course of rural development, it still lies at the foundation of Chinese rural development at present and in the future. In its rural development, China should explore in depth the foundational system and primitive tradition, and establish necessary links between traditions and modernity, so as to embark on a road of development with Chinese characteristics.