Under communism, China in the past two decades has experienced profound structural and cultural change. One of the primary devices the Chinese elite have resorted to for affecting change is the institution of hsiao-tsu (small groups) and political rituals of criticism and self-criticism. In spite of their significance, hsiao-tsu and the associated political rituals have not been systematically studied. Martin Whyte's is the first systematic sociological study of this vitally important institution in contemporary China and fills severals gaps in our knowledge