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8/10/2019 China Change Historical Change and the Limits of European Experience Book Review by Nicolaus Shombe
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Global Economic History
Book Review: CHINA TRANSFORMED:
Historical Change and the Limits of European Experience
Author: Roy Bin Wong
Publisher: Cornell University Press, 1997
Book Review by Nicolaus Shombe (PHD14407)
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OUTLINE
General Summary of the Book
Economic History
Agrarian to Industrialization
Political Comparison
State formation Ideology and Institutional resources
Social Protest and Revolutions
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General Summary Historical transformation of China V/S Historical pattern of development of Early
Modern Europe. The history of development of Western Europe has been considered as global
history
Patterns of historical change which include similarities and differences of
economic development and theories of industrialization such as Malthus theory
and Smithian theory.
Comparing State Formation and Transformation
Similarities and Differences between Politics, Protests and Social Change in China
and Europe
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Economic History
China between 10th 12th Centuries had society with urban culture which engaged in
expanding commercial economy.
Chinese could produce surplus for trading same path of Early European development
trajectory.
In comparing Economic history and problems of development between China and Europe,
Chinese peasants economic undertakings were similar in fundamental and important to those of
Europe
Both early modern Europe and late imperial China shared Smithian economic growth dynamics,
Major changes in China began in the area of central China (near Shanghai) where there were
improvement of productivity in the agriculture.
The same pattern of growth was observed in Europe which is considered to be Adam Smith
growth path in which division of labor and specialization led to development in Europe.
Smithian growth productivity in agriculture surplus production expansion of trade which
is prerequisite condition for the increase in division of labor and labor specialization in
production and trading.
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Economic History There was an increase in cash cropping and hand craft activities in different parts of
Chinese empire between the 16th 18th C especially in Yangzi delta and Pearl river
delta
Apart from products market, the factor market also emerged in Yangzi River where
there were land market for rental and sales also Labor market developed for both Long
Term and Short Term labor.
Textile formed a major rural hand craft centers similar to Europe especially in Jiangsuand Zhejing provinces villages where increases number of peasants began to turn either
to cotton yarn and cloth production or silk weaving during 16th C.
both Europe and China experienced cycle of economic growth and contractions which
led to the division of labor and comparative advantage through the market.
In the cause of population growth, the Black Death occurred in 14th C reducedpopulation . In China also in 17th C and 19th C, rebellions, natural disasters, general
crisis of economic, social and political difficulties happened which is similar to the
Malthusian check
The author insisted that similarities between Europe and China continued until just
before Industrial revolution
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State Formation and Transformation
During the time of the Roman Empire both Europe and China had roughly similar (agrarian
empire) formations, but while China sustained that state formation and the idea of a unified
polity until the 20thC, Europe experienced disintegration
After collapse of Roman Empire Europe never again had an imperial political formation of any
great size with the capacity to exercise centralize control over its territories.
Both European states and the Chinese empire faced different challenges, claims, and
commitments, and they did so in different ways
Chinese expanded its empire through combination of morality, material, and coercive means
with principal goal in achieving stability
European dynamics of imperial expansion embraced commercial, political and military
Chinese political economy was intended to capture the benefits of expanded production andexchange through policies that increased production and stabilized trade
The crucial distinction between China and Europe: political economies was greater
adaptability of Europe to industrial possibilities.
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State Formation and Transformation
European state lacks institutional strategies to promote social order
European rulers competed with institutionally distinct and powerful
aristocracies, cleric and urban elite
In China the emperor worked to develop sustainable bureaucracy
while in Europe warfare among European rulers to expand theirpower
Domestic order in China involved both rural and urban while in
Europe is urban area
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Institutions and TaxationStates function is raising revenue, guarding threats against
external enemies, assuring domestic social stability
China Taxation agriculture taxation at low rate for provision of
services and welfare of the people
Institutional Land was allotted by state so that peasants could
pay tax to support the state
State coordinated food supply as governments policy to
coordinate welfare
Used society to maintain peace and stability
House hold records for land, taxes and prevention of crimes
Use of extended kinship networks organized in cooperate
fashion to reproduce social order
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Raising revenue
China and Europe had different revenue mobilization strategies
In Europe state makers competed with other power holders(nobles, clerics and merchants) to redefine and expand there
claims on resources
In China had system of taxation which was modest and steady
In Europe borrowed loans against future revenue
Chines relied on commercial tax and agriculture land
Chines did not borrow but used its surplus in merchants to earn
interest rate.
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Grain seizures
Tax resistance
Revolutions in China and Europe- France. 1789 to 1799 during which France went from a monarchy ruled
by King Louis XVI to a republic ruled by the people
Chinese Communist Revolution collapse in Qing dynasty in1911 created political crisis
Social Protest and Revolutions
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Invasion by foreign
Fought war increase revenue
Military strategized in the cost resources were allocated in this area
1911 1949
State rebuilding and Nationalism in 20th Century
- local capacity were expanded
Anti-Japanese war (1937 -45) - Nationalism and establishment of Peoples
Republic off China in 1949
China After 1949
Communist inherited 1949 economy with modest industrial base
Socialist country investment decision is done by state (what to produce and
how much to produce)
State Bureaucracy
Cadres system
Unitary state with effective rule over the entire country
China managed to continue united because it had no corporate groups, no elite
with their own bas power and authority
The China After 1850
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THANK YOU