Developmental idealism in China

Abstract

This paper examines the intersection of developmental idealism with China. It discusses how developmental idealism has been widely disseminated within China and has had enormous effects on public policy and programs, on social institutions, and on the lives of individuals and their families. This dissemination of developmental idealism to China began in the 19th century, when China met with several military defeats that led many in the country to question the place of China in the world. By the beginning of the 20th century, substantial numbers of Chinese had reacted to the country’s defeats by exploring developmental idealism as a route to independence, international respect, and prosperity. Then, with important but brief aberrations, the country began to implement many of the elements of developmental idealism, a movement that became especially important following the assumption of power by the Communist Party of China in 1949. This movement has played a substantial role in politics, in the economy, and in family life. The beliefs and values of developmental idealism have also been directly disseminated to the grassroots in China, where substantial majorities of Chinese citizens have assimilated them. These ideas are both known and endorsed by very large numbers in China today.

Decoupling: Marital Violence and the Struggle to Divorce in China

“…To be sure, China's rising divorce rates are consistent with Wang and Schofer's (2018, p. 16) sanguine conclusion that "the legitimation of world cultural principles at the global level can propel local change." Global scripts, including "developmental idealism," may very well contribute to values of individualism, feminism, and equal rights in China and may thus influence individual behavior (Boyle et al 2002;Yu and Xie 2015;Thornton and Xie 2016) in the context of marriage and divorce despite durable local organizational barriers to divorce rooted in endogenous institutional norms and practices that are orthogonal to world society models. Such local organizational barriers are the focus of this article.…”

Developmental Idealism and a Half-Century of Family Attitude Trends in the United States

“…We view these long-term trends in family attitudes in the United States through the lens of the developmental idealism framework (Allendorf and Thornton 2015, Thornton 2001, Thornton 2005, Thornton, Dorius and Swindle 2015, Thornton and Xie 2016. This application of a developmental idealism framework to the United States also comprises a contribution.…”

“…Developmental idealism theory argues the beliefs and values comprising developmental idealism culture spread around the world and influenced family behavior by motivating individuals to adopt behaviors identified as good and modern (e.g. Allendorf and Thornton 2015, Thornton et al 2012b, Thornton and Xie 2016. As developmental idealism culture spread, it encountered other systems of cultural values, with tension, resistance, rejection, and conflict often resulting.…”

Developmental Idealism and a Half Century of Family Attitude Trends in the United States

“…Developmental idealism theory argues the beliefs and values comprising developmental idealism culture not only spread around the world, but spurred changes in family behavior by motivating individuals to adopt "modern" behaviors (e.g. Allendorf and Thornton 2015;Thornton et al 2012a;Thornton and Xie 2016).This theoretical lens also comprises a contribution. We describe and illustrate how developmental idealism theory applies to the United States and other Western societies.…”

“…Developmental idealism theory argues the beliefs and values comprising developmental idealism culture not only spread around the world, but spurred changes in family behavior by motivating individuals to adopt "modern" behaviors (e.g. Allendorf and Thornton 2015;Thornton et al 2012a;Thornton and Xie 2016).…”