Rethinking Modernization and Value Change in China: Moral Decline or Emancipative Shift?

Modernization, particularly in Western contexts, is often conceptualized as a driver of emancipative value change; the Chinese experience offers a different narrative—one in which modernization is associated with the erosion of shared moral norms and the emergence of a so-called moral crisis. Despite these competing views, empirical research remains limited regarding whether modernization in China erodes shared moral norms or fosters emancipative value change. Using data from the World Values Survey conducted in China in 2007, 2012, and 2018, this study examines both perspectives by analyzing intergenerational differences in moral values and standards. It finds that, compared to pre-reform generations, post-reform generations exhibit higher moral standards and demonstrate more diverse and emancipative moral values. In addition, moral standards have increased over time across the general population. These results suggest that the so-called moral crisis in China should be understood as a transformation of morality rather than its decline. These findings help to clarify an influential concept, illuminate how China’s modernization shapes the moral outlook of its citizens, and contribute to comparative debates on socio-economic modernization and value change.