The Power of Words

This book is a social and political history of the struggle forliteracy in rural China from 1949 until 1994. It aims to show howChina's revolutionary leaders conceived and promoted literacy inthe countryside and how villagers made use of the literacy educationand schools they were offered. Rather than focusing narrowly oneducational issues alone, Peterson examines the larger significance ofP.R.C. literacy efforts by situating the literacy movement within thebroad context of major themes and issues in the social and politicalhistory of post-1949 China. Following the recent trend toward regionaland local history, this book focuses on the linguistically diverse,socially complex, and politically awkward southeastern coastal provinceof Guangdong. As well, Peterson conducted interviews with localofficials and teachers in several Guangdong counties in 1988 and 1989.