Great Reversal Kerry Brown
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The Great Reversal
A vivid history of the relationship between Britain and China, from 1600 to the present The relationship between Britain and China has shaped the modern world. Chinese art, philosophy and science have had a profound effect upon British culture, while the long history of British exploitation is still bitterly remembered in China today. But how has their interaction changed over time? From the early days of the East India Company through the violence of the Opium Wars to present-day disputes over Hong Kong, Kerry Brown charts this turbulent and intriguing relationship in full. Britain has always sought to dominate China economically and politically, while China's ideas and exports--from tea and Chinoiserie to porcelain and silk--have continued to fascinate in the west. But by the later twentieth century, the balance of power began to shift in China's favour, with global consequences. Brown shows how these interactions changed the world order--and argues that an understanding of Britain's relationship with China is now more vital than ever.
Robert Hart and Sino-Foreign Disputes in Qing China, 1863-1908
This book investigates the role of Sir Robert Hart in China’s early engagement with Western international law, covering the period from Hart’s earliest days as Inspector General of the foreign-dominated Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs (CIMC) to his final years in China (1863-1908). Drawing on Hart’s personal records, particularly his diaries and correspondence with CIMC officials and various political figures, as well as Customs Service official publications, records of the British Foreign Office, Chinese official papers, newspapers, and other contemporary publications, the book focuses on Sino-foreign jurisdictional disputes in which Hart was involved. They are used as case studies to examine his role – and more broadly, that of the CIMC – in influencing contemporary perceptions in the West about China’s status vis-à-vis Western nation-states. Going beyond portraying Hart as a mere broker, the book delves into his complex and multi-faceted character. It examines his idiosyncratic approach to Qing engagement with the West, particularly focusing on his proposals for dealing with international institutions. While these proposals had the potential to strengthen China, they sought to do so largely on Western terms, ultimately undermining China's ability to function as an independent state. By analysing Hart's character and his engagement with Western international law, the author aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding Qing China's interaction with the West. It highlights the ambivalence exhibited by both Qing and Western officials, emphasising the challenges and opportunities in negotiations based on Western legal principles. Contributing to discussion on whether international structures could be utilised to bolster Qing sovereignty, this book will provide insights for those researching Chinese history, diplomatic history and international relations, and international law.
China Resurrected
Author: Frans-Paul van der Putten
language: en
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Release Date: 2025-06-12
China's rise to superpower is seemingly a modern phenomenon, but it has a long history. This book follows China's geopolitical transformation on the world stage, from struggling to defend herself against the British in the Opium Wars, to rivalling the United States for supremacy. What started as a response to Europe's colonial influence has gradually become China's quest to take a leading role on the word stage. But how did this happen? And what kind of actor is China as a global great power? The answers to these questions lie in how China has been shaped by its changing relationships with major world powers over the last two centuries. Arguing that a series of military defeats in the Opium Wars, Boxer Crisis and Japanese occupation led to a deep-rooted national sense of geopolitical vulnerability, van der Putten shows how this imbalance of power has resulted in Chinese distrust and uncertainty, even after it ceased to be prey to imperialist powers. Tracing China's relations with other major powers over the last 185 years, China Resurrected shows how they have influenced the way in which China itself has become a leading power, and what this means for its relations with the West.