Better to Rely on Ourselves

This study analyses changes in the protection of social rights in China since 1979 for the middle-income level of the urban population, based on family interviews and documentary studies. It tells how conditions for employment, housing, social security and education have undergone a complete transformation as a consequence of the transition to a market economy.

While the individual citizen has benefited from more freedom of choice and movement, there is less stable protection of the right to work, health care, housing and education. Moreover, channels of popular participation in the decision-making process remain fragile and knowledge of complaints mechanisms and legal remedies is poor.

Introduction
Setting the Scene
The Human Rights Regime
Social Policy Theory
How to Get and Keep a Job
Welfare Benefit or Investment Object: Housing Reform
Social Security
The Eright to Education: Basic Schooling
Reactionas and Perceptions
Consequences of Economic Reform for Social Rightrs Protection
Afterword, Appendices, Bibliography, Index

“Thelle’s book is a well-researched and readable study containing valuable information on the dynamic of Chinese citizens’ situation… It will be of interest to students not only of human rights but also of Chinese society and economy generally.” Reviewed by Friederike Fleischer, The China Journal, no. 56

Hatla Thelle

Hatla Thelle is a China specialist, and a researcher and project manager at the Danish Institute for Human Rights in Copenhagen. Since 2006 she has been head of the China Unit.

Thelle's main research interests include modern Chinese society and politics, social rights, gender studies, and law reform in countries in transition. She is currently researching the establishment of a legal aid system in China.

Ordering

Individuals, institutions and libraries

No matter where you are in the world, all NIAS Press books can be ordered through your local bookseller as well as from online booksellers such as Amazon. Libraries can order from their usual library supplier. You are also welcome to order direct from the NIAS Press distributor in your region (see list below). If you send your order to us at the NIAS Press office, we will redirect it to the relevant distributor.

Trade customers

Trade orders should be directed to the relevant local distributor.

Europe, Middle East and Africa
Marston Book Services
PO Box 269, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4SD, UK
Fax: +44 (0) 1235 465 555

E-mail: direct.order@marston.co.uk (individuals, institutions and libraries)
E-mail: trade.order@marston.co.uk (trade customers only)
Web: www.marston.co.uk

NB: enquiries about special terms should be directed to marie@nias.ku.dk

North America and Latin America
University of Hawai‘i Press
2840 Kolowalu Street, Honolulu, HI 96822-1888, USA
Fax: +1-808-988-6052
Fax: +1 (800) 650-7811 (North America only)
E-mail: uhpbooks@hawaii.edu
Web: www.uhpress.hawaii.edu

Japan
United Publishers Services Ltd
1-32-5 Higashi-shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Fax: +81 (0) 3 5479 7307
E-mail: info@ups.co.jp

Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam
Silkworm Books
6 Sukkasem Road, Suthep
Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Fax +66 53 22 66 43
E-mail: orders@silkwormbooks.com
Web: www.silkwormbooks.com

Rest of Asia
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
30 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, Pasir Panjang, Singapore 119614
Fax: +65 6775 6259
E-mail: pubsunit@iseas.edu.sg
Web: www.bookshop.iseas.edu.sg

Australia and New Zealand
InBooks / James Bennett
Unit 3, 114 Old Pittwater Road, Brookvale, NSW 2100, Australia
Fax: +61 2 8988 5090
E-mail: orders@inbooks.com.au
Web: www.inbooks.com.au

Older titles
NIAS Press aims to keep all our books in print indefinitely, but our distributors do not carry a full complement of the oldest titles. If you cannot source a NIAS title from your preferred bookshop or from the local NIAS Press distributor, please contact books@nias.ku.dk and we will do our best to help you.

Prices
The prices in British pounds sterling (£) stated on this website will be applied to all orders in Europe. To the best of our ability, these prices are accurate, but are subject to change. For prices outside Europe, please contact or check the website of your local distributor (as listed above). Please note that orders may be subject to local taxes and shipping charges.

Contents

Hot off the press

Ancestors in Borneo Societies: Death, Transformation, and Social Immortality

Cambodia's Economic Transformation:

Historical Dictionary of the Indochina War (1945-1954): An International and Interdisciplinary Approach

Search Website

Better to Rely on Ourselves

Changing Social Rights in Urban China since 1979

by Hatla Thelle

Hatla Thelle

Ordering

Individuals, institutions and libraries

Trade customers

Press news

Latest catalogue