The Haze of Society: The Logic and Reality of Social Risk in Contemporary China

Author: Zhong Jun
Publisher: China Social Sciences Press

The book The Haze of Society: The Logic and Reality of Social Risk in Contemporary China by Zhong Jun provides a theoretical basis for researching and resolving social risk at the latest stage of Chinese society, offering some fresh perspectives on comprehensively deepening reform.

Following the philosophical idea of “unity between man and nature” and guided by dialectical and historical materialism, the book starts the discussion by drawing an analogy between smog in nature and what the author refers to as “social haze.”

On the basis of scientifically defining social risk, systematically collating Marxist social contradictions and social risk doctrine, and dialectically analyzing Western social risk theory, the book strives to explore a path for preventing and resolving social risk as well as constantly advancing national governance in China.

Nowadays, most assessments and research on social risk are conducted using qualitative analysis while few quantitative and empirical studies are carried out on the severity of social contradictions, the shell of social risk and possible consequences. The Haze of Society, however, applies questionnaires and in-depth interviews to conduct relatively objective empirical research on the matter.
 

In addition, the author studies the risks of society from the perspective of historical materialism, lays bare the causes through interest or class analysis, and interprets the internal relationship between social conflicts and risk by employing dialectical thinking.
 

It is worth mentioning that the book combines the basic principles of Marxism with China’s reality. In different disciplines and discussions, the connotation of the social risk varies. To date, academics have not reached a consensus on the definition of social risk. The author defines it from two aspects, namely abstract connotation and concrete denotation. The former focuses on the possibility while the latter is anchored in systematicity.

To conclude, social risk comprises the source, shell, entropy and consequence, and this summary offers a dynamic and systematic way to accurately understand and define the concept. 

Li Shenming is a research fellow and the former vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.