CHINA URBAN MIGRANTS - THE PUBLIC-POLICY CHALLENGE

Since the mid-1980s, urban migrants have emerged as a new status group in Chinese society. This study examines the complexity of urban migration from the angle of public policy with the aim of presenting an overview of the current situation regarding urban migrants. The focus of the paper is on the challenges that migrants pose to the state and civil society and the policy responses adopted during the period from the late 1980s to 1993. The paper first analyzes the problems and contributions brought by urban migrants. Second, using Guangdong as an example, the paper examines the measures taken by state agencies and their effectiveness. The final section discusses the problems and prospects related to urban migration. The paper concludes that current policy is plainly inadequate and that urban migrants are still relegated to the margins of Chinese society. It is argued that unless their claims are recognized, urban migrants are likely to remain a thorn in governance and a threat to social stability.