The concepts of social duties and obligations that underlie Chinese society come from the teachings of Confucius. The regime of Mao Zedong used Confucianism to help establish social control. In the 1970's the rise of Deng Xiaoping brought extensive social, economic, and legal reforms. Among these were the "open door" policy regarding other nations, the policy of one child per family, and economic pragmatism. These changes mean that Chinese youths are being reared in a society that is significantly different from that of their forebears. Delinquency and dropping out of school have both increased, and youth are largely disillusioned with the Communist Party and apathetic toward its goals. Most offenses are property offenses, and drug use appears to be nonexistent. Education rather than punishment is emphasized in dealing with juvenile offenders, with several levels of institutions for more serious offenders. However, only time will tell how successfully the Chinese will be at handling the growing problems among its youth. Note.