I’m not an expert, so I don’t really have an answer to this. But I dislike the concept of using a system that attempts to restrict movements and rights, and tries to prevent people from seeking better economic opportunities, I think its unethnical. It sort of reminds me of anti-immigration sentinments in western countries. Except that in this case, this Hukou thing is even weirder, like wtf, aren’t we supposed to be part of the same country? Like?!? I am literally a citizen* of the country, why can’t I move somewhere else that’s better? Imagine you’re from rural Alamaba and you can’t go to California, and even if they eventually allow it, you can’t get California’s healthcare despite living and working there, and you can’t go to California’s public schools. Like wtf, imagine this bs in your country.
(*was a citizen, I no longer have PRC Citizenship after moving abroad and gaining another citizenship.)
Besides…
After Deng Xiaoping’s reforms, which included relaxing the restrictions on internal migration, the China’s economy only grew stronger, less people were in poverty, so that’s proof that these weird Hukou restrictions are totally unnecessary on the development of the country.
For comparison, the EU also doesn’t allow new members free movement. Only if their economy is strong enough that the people don’t flee the country, the restrictions are lifted.
EU members are still sovereign, they can leave whenever (not saying that its a good idea to leave, but the option exists), Provinces of China are not sovereign, they can never leave. So the Hukou + No Sovereignty is just combining the worst of both worlds.
Provinces struggle to even keep their local languages, those in Beijing are trying to force Mandarin in schools all across the country, including Guangdong, and bans Cantonese from being spoken in schools, and are forcing cultural assimulation, and trying to eradicate Cantonese culture. I’m not against learning a new language, but forcing an outside language to take priority over a local language is ridiculous. They should be using both Cantonese and Mandarin in Guangzhou’s schools, and should not prioritize the Northerner’s dialect (aka: “Mandarin”). The Cantonese language is dying, and its sad to see this.
Afaik, EU countries generally maintain their language and cultural identity.
Thanks.
Do you think China could have managed to transform without the Hukou system? How would you have done it?
I’m not an expert, so I don’t really have an answer to this. But I dislike the concept of using a system that attempts to restrict movements and rights, and tries to prevent people from seeking better economic opportunities, I think its unethnical. It sort of reminds me of anti-immigration sentinments in western countries. Except that in this case, this Hukou thing is even weirder, like wtf, aren’t we supposed to be part of the same country? Like?!? I am literally a citizen* of the country, why can’t I move somewhere else that’s better? Imagine you’re from rural Alamaba and you can’t go to California, and even if they eventually allow it, you can’t get California’s healthcare despite living and working there, and you can’t go to California’s public schools. Like wtf, imagine this bs in your country.
(*was a citizen, I no longer have PRC Citizenship after moving abroad and gaining another citizenship.)
Besides…
After Deng Xiaoping’s reforms, which included relaxing the restrictions on internal migration, the China’s economy only grew stronger, less people were in poverty, so that’s proof that these weird Hukou restrictions are totally unnecessary on the development of the country.
For comparison, the EU also doesn’t allow new members free movement. Only if their economy is strong enough that the people don’t flee the country, the restrictions are lifted.
EU members are still sovereign, they can leave whenever (not saying that its a good idea to leave, but the option exists), Provinces of China are not sovereign, they can never leave. So the Hukou + No Sovereignty is just combining the worst of both worlds.
Provinces struggle to even keep their local languages, those in Beijing are trying to force Mandarin in schools all across the country, including Guangdong, and bans Cantonese from being spoken in schools, and are forcing cultural assimulation, and trying to eradicate Cantonese culture. I’m not against learning a new language, but forcing an outside language to take priority over a local language is ridiculous. They should be using both Cantonese and Mandarin in Guangzhou’s schools, and should not prioritize the Northerner’s dialect (aka: “Mandarin”). The Cantonese language is dying, and its sad to see this.
Afaik, EU countries generally maintain their language and cultural identity.