The post-1980s generation in China: exploring its theoretical underpinning

Having emerged as a catch phrase in the media and among the general public in China, the ‘post-1980s generation’ has also become a subject of concern and discussion by academics both domestically and abroad. In order to answer the most basic questions of whether or not the ‘post-1980s’ constitute a generation, and what has founded this generation, the present paper starts with a discussion of the theoretical foundation of the concept of ‘generation’, followed by a specific discussion of the Chinese ‘post-1980s generation’, including the social forces they confront and their corresponding reactions. It is concluded that the post-1980s generation in China has grown up with and responded to the abrupt social changes incurred by reform and opening-up, and displays a distinctive generational entelechy. It therefore constitutes a generation in a practical and theoretical sense.