Using a social movement perspective with statistical models, this monograph demonstrates that participation in the Red Guards movement during the CR was motivated by the desire to improve social status or maintain existing positions in the social hierarchy. A strong relationship is noted between factional alignment and family background in provinces immersed in class-based struggle; however, the association becomes nil in provinces where sectarian struggle was grounded across classes.

The movement dynamics were very different within the various provinces; it is impossible to study just one province and then make generalizations to the whole of China. We attempt to resolve the problem via the use of a stratified sampling design.