Two Worlds, Single Country:
The Rural and Urban Divide in China
9:00 a.m., Friday, Sept. 7, 2007
Webster Hall Auditorium
Admission: free

While the level of per-capita income and economic opportunities has increased dramatically for all Chinese over the last two decades, the rural and urban divide continues to grow. The “rural and urban gap” includes vast differences in the quality of life such as educational opportunities and access to basic public services. Moreover, beyond the rural and urban distinctions there are also huge disparities within rural and urban communities. Many scholars and policy makers suggest these growing inequalities may contribute to greater social unrest and instability. Thus, reducing this gap may be one of the most important challenges for the Chinese central leadership.

Dr. John Kennedy is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Kansas where he teaches courses on Chinese domestic politics, political development, and research methods. He has published articles in Asian Survey, The China Quarterly, the Journal of Chinese Political Science, and the Journal of Political Science Education. He has spent several years living in China and has returned at least two or three times a year since 1994. His research interests are in the areas of institutional change and political reform in rural China.