EN
The Chinese population planning policy that was introduced after a proclamation of the new program of reform and modernization in 1979, was incorporated as a law into the Constitution of 1982. From the very beginning it faced various pressures and met with resistance, especially from the rural population. This study attempts to analyze why the implementation of the long term population policy has encountered so many difficulties and why the official policy of one child was changed in the mid 1980’s. This study shows the influence of deeply ingrained traditional attitudes in the minds of a large part of the population for whom having more children, especially sons, represents more security and may be a way to prosperity (sons being more valuable than daughters). It is argued that although Chinese society has changed, some traditional values still play a social role. As a result of an openness policy and more personal rights the population dynamics, which influences the speed of social dynamics have encountered numerous barriers, from both – traditional values and from modern culture. Changes are taking place in all aspects of life, even the once extensive government control, does not work as before. It is argued then that the future of the population policy in China will function differently taking into account the presence – both traditional values and modern behavior of the society.