Study Questions for Chen Village

Part 1:

1. In what ways did peasants resist various state intrusions into their lives?

2. What is the role of the "four bad types" in the village?

3. What do you think was the main problem between Qingfa and Longyong?

4. What is the overall purpose of the Big Four Clean Ups in Chen Village, and was it a success?

5. Why were the sent down youth so volatile on the eve of the Cultural Revolution?

6. What accounts for the relatively low level of Red Guard activity in Chen Village?

Part 2:

1. How does Hong Kong influence Chen Village?

2. Why did Longyong succeed under both socialism and capitalism? What did "success" mean in each case?

3. Give an example of corruption from this period. Why is corruption such as this sometimes tolerated and other times not?

4. What kinds of "outsiders" arrived in Chen Village after Reform and Opening-Up? What roles do they fill? How do the Chens treat them?

5. Briefly describe the welfare and electoral systems of Chen Village. Note who is included in these systems and who is excluded.