An Institutional Analysis Of Poverty And Anti-poverty In China: From Marxist Perspective

As a universal problem, international society has paid great attention to poverty and anti-poverty. Alleviation of poverty, mitigation of conflicts and maintenance of social stabilization are the key functions of the state and government. The report of the Seventeenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China emphasize that, we must adhere to and develop Marxism, hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, follow the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, thoroughly apply the Scientific Outlook on Development, continue to emancipate the mind, persist in reform and opening up, pursue development in a scientific way, promote social harmony, and strive for new victories in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, so as to eliminate the phenomenon of absolute poverty, to realize the prosperity for all and promote the all-round development of the people.Since the foundation of the People's Republic of China, and on the basis of persisting in Marxist institutional poverty theory and adapting it to the practical needs of China's anti-poverty in different historical periods, China has significantly enriched and expanded Marxist institutional poverty theory, established a theoretical system of anti-poverty with Chinese characteristics, and have made prominent contribution to anti-poverty in China and the world.However, the new institutionalism has become a dominant paradigm in poverty and anti-poverty research since the 1950s. Almost at the same time, the flourishing of all kinds of poverty theories has greatly weakened people's concern about Marxist institutional poverty theory. Therefore, it has become an important task for both Chinese government and academic circle to think about, under the condition of adhering to Marxism, how to critically learn from the Western new institutionalism and poverty theory, to promote the innovation of poverty theory, and to enrich and develop socialist anti-poverty theory in China.Different to analysis of institutional individualism, Marxism comprehensively analyses poverty and anti-poverty by using a holistic institutional approach. Against the background of the"Scientific Outlook on Development"and constructing"harmonious society", Marxist institutionalism on poverty and anti-poverty has undoubtedly become an important guideline in promoting theoretical innovation of poverty and anti-poverty in China.By using Marxist theory and method of holistic institutional analysis, this dissertation attempts to systematically explore the development process and the basic logic of anti-poverty theory, the system and institutional performance of anti-poverty, and the problems and causes in Chinese anti-poverty system, and further puts forward the concrete paths of mode choice and institutional innovation of poverty and anti-poverty in China in line with the Scientific Outlook on Development. This dissertation consists of four parts.Chapter One systematically clarifies the system of Marxist institutional poverty theory and the process of adapting it to Chinese conditions, and focuses on the inherent logics and developmental trajectory of Marxist institutional poverty theory. It argues that, there are four basic logics that have run through the overall process of the formulation and development of Marxist institutional poverty theory. They are: the fundamental origin of poverty lies in institution, the basic approach of anti-poverty rests with developing the productive forces, the basic goal of anti-poverty is to realize the prosperity for all, the end of anti-poverty is to achieve the all-round development of the people. The formulation and development of socialist anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics is the result of insisting on these four basis logics.By using the related theory of Marxist institutional analysis, Chapter Two examines the evolvement of Chinese anti-poverty theory, and assesses the institutional performance of anti-poverty system in China from a Marxist perspective. It holds that China has established an anti-poverty system with the features of complete structure, clear hierarchy, dynamic development. This system has been gradually formulated and developed under the condition of upholding and improving the basic system of socialism, and continuing to build up and improve the related economic, political, and social systems. Furthermore, the current Chinese anti-poverty system has shown its better efficiency in realizing social equity and justice and promoting the all-round development of the people.Chapter Three explores the institutional dilemmas and their formats in China's anti-poverty system, by using the theory and method of Marxist institutional analysis. It mainly focuses on the problems and causes related to anti-poverty system in rural areas and at town level in China. This chapter argues that, problems such as institution absence, system imperfection, and the weakness of system implementation have been visible although China has formulated a comprehensive anti-poverty system. As for the current anti-poverty system in rural China, the dual-track system between rural and urban areas, the imperfect land system, the absence of social security system, and the relatively lag-behind of educational system are still the major institutional obstacles for anti-poverty in rural China. While, the unequal income distribution system, unsound employment and social security system and the block of interests expression have revealed the institutional dilemmas of anti-poverty system in urban areas in current China.Finally, Chapter Four explains the newest achievement of adapting Marxism to Chinese conditions --- the Scientific Outlook on Development and its new requirements in anti-poverty strategy, and proposes which kind of basic modes of anti-poverty China should choose in line with the Scientific Outlook on Development, and through which approach institutional innovation of anti-poverty system can be further promoted.To conclude, this dissertation deems that the Scientific Outlook on Development has provided a new thought, a new approach and a new goal for mode choice and institutional innovation of anti-poverty in China. Under the guidance of the Scientific Outlook on Development, two key points --- insisting on and improving the people-centred mode of anti-poverty, shared pattern, social-participation pattern and international collaborative pattern, while continuously innovating the government-led system of anti-poverty pattern, fiscal poverty reduction system, anti-poverty system of non-governmental organization participation, international collaborative system and social security system --- are the only way of further improving the work of anti-poverty and achieving the goal of eliminating poverty, realize the prosperity for all, and promoting the construction of a moderately prosperous society in China.