Le Mouvement d'envoi des jeunes instruits à la campagne : Chine, 1968-1980
Institution:
Paris, EHESSDisciplines:
Directors:
Abstract EN:
From 1968 to 1979, 16. 5 million young middle school graduates (approximately half of this urban generation) have been sent from the chinese cities into the countryside, in order to be "reeducated" and to become "peasants of a new type". This social experiment, unique in world history, was initiated by mao mainly for ideological and political reasons and not simply, as has often been said, to solve the urban unemployment problem. But, because of its compulsory nature, this movement, which caused serious frustrations among educated youth, has been a failure. Passive resistance by society created a host of problemes such as demoralisation, deviance, delinquency and corruption. Starting from 1978, resistance also took open forms and forced the regime to stop rusticating urban graduates and accept the return of most of the educated youth, much earlier than it planned. The most lasting effect of the movement has been the creation of a very specific generation : "lost generation" but also "thoughtful generation", endowed with an exceptional social experience.
Abstract FR:
De 1968 a 1979, seize millions et demi de jeunes citadins diplomes de l'enseignement secondaire (soit environ la moitie de cette generation urbaine) ont ete envoyes dans les campagnes chinoises, pour s'y faire "reeduquer" et devenir des "paysans d'un type nouveau". Cette experience sociale unique dans l'histoire mondiale a ete voulue par mao essentiellement pour des raisons ideologiques et politiques et non pas simplement, comme on l'a souvent dit, pour resoudre les problemes de chomage urbain. Mais a cause de son caractere impose et des nombreuses difficultes materielles et morales rencontrees par les jeunes instruits a la campagne, le mouvement a ete un echec. La resistance passive de la societe a engendre de serieux problemes de demoralisation, de deviance, de delinquance et de corruption. A partir de 1978, la resistance a pris egalement des formes ouvertes et contraint le regime a interrompre les envois et a accepter le retour de la plupart des jeunes instruits beaucoup plus tot qu'il ne le desirait. L'effet le plus durable du mouvement a ete la formation d'une generation tres specifique : "generation perdue" mais aussi "generation reflechie", riche d'une experience sociale exceptionnelle.