Abstract

This book mainly takes the large-scale state-owned industrial enterprises（SOEs），so called work unit（danwei），since the 1950s as the research object，and conducts empirical research on two cases both located in Northeast China：Factory Y and Factory T. Through literature analysis and in-depth interviews，a “typical danwei model”（典型单位制）has been described. In the diachronic process of danwei，by focusing on the changing process of the organizational boundaries of danwei，regarding the overall transition of danwei as a “community”（共同体）from its generation to decline，we can analyze and reflect on the internal logic of its transition.

Since the establishment ofdanwei system，there has been two major changes in the shape of danwei organization，namely the expansion of danwei organization brought about by the establishment of subordinate collective enterprises（SCEs）established by state-owned enterprises，and the collapse of the traditional danwei organizational structure brought about by the reform of the SOE. The emergence of SCE made danwei community move towards scale expansion and comprehensive functions，but also created a new boundary inside danwei organization and caused structural differences and identity differences between SOE and SCE. With the continuous deepening of market-oriented reforms，the restructuring of SCE was the first step in the reform of danwei organization，and it was also the forerunner of the decline of danwei community.

The process ofthe transition of danwei community is，in fact，the process of shaping the internal boundary of danwei organization，diminishing and disintegrating the outer boundary of the organization. During the establishment of danwei system，it actually builds an institutionalized boundary between danwei organization and the outside danwei. The SCE set up a boundary inside danwei organization that divided danwei into 2 parts：state-owned part and collective part，which created duality within danwei system. With the strengthening of inner boundary and the weakening of external boundary，danwei community began to loose，the reform of SCE was pushed to the foreground，which directly led to the second fundamental change of danwei organizational structure since its formation.

The study of transition of“danwei community” plays a significant role in understanding danwei，it takes place under the logic of “from social closure to open market”，and draw a clue of the state's attempt to reallocate social resources in the continuous remodeling of the legitimacy of danwei.

In the previousdanwei study，the SCE，an important factor that promotes the transition of danwei system，has rarely been valued. Taking the SCE study and the conception of boundaries into danwei study can be a new way to understanding danwei. With the disappearance of the traditional danwei system，the community principles and logic contained in “danwei community” continue to play a role in modern society，not only as a re-emphasis on the political and social functions of SOE，but also of fundamental significance on Chinese society reorganization in “post- danwei era”.

Key Words：Work Unit Community；Transition of Work Unit Boundaries；Subordinate Collective Enterprises