ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the rise—and recent eclipse—of public opinion as a societal feedback mechanism in post-Mao China. The Chinese were relative latecomers in recognizing the utility of survey research and public opinion polling. With such a strong legacy of support for the classic Maoist approach to analyzing social problems, it is not surprising that survey research was introduced into post-Mao China rather tardily, and largely from the out-side—paralleling the revival of the social sciences more generally. Opinion surveys in communist systems serve many purposes. Alex Inkeles put the matter well almost several years ago, when he noted that for Soviet leaders the main purpose in promoting public opinion research "is not to cater to public opinion but to move it along as rapidly as possible without undermining popular support". At that meeting, then General Secretary Zhao Ziyang emphasized the need for public opinion to play a "supervisory role.".
