Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Organizations And Expertise In China, Rudi Volti

Pitzer Faculty Publications and Research

A number of analyses of contemporary Chinese society have centered on the presumed conflicts between politically reliable "reds" and technically proficient "experts." This article challenges this mode of analysis by indicating the multi-dimensionality of both categories and by setting them in their historic and cultural contexts. Particular emphasis is accorded to the importance of organizational affiliation in defining the social role of the expert. A short history of the interaction between organizational development and the role of the expert is presented, along with some considerations of future trends in this area.