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Book Review:
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CHINA TRANSFORMED:
Historical Change and the Limits of European Experience
Roy Bin Wong
Cornell University Press, 1997
Book Review by Nicolaus Shombe (PHD14407)
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General Summary of the Book
Economic History
Agrarian to Industrialization
Political Comparison
State formation
Ideology and Institutional resources
General Summary
Similarities and Differences between Politics, Protests and Social Change in China
and Europe
Economic History
China between 10th 12th Centuries had society with urban culture which engaged in
expanding commercial economy.
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.
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 Jiangsu
and 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 reduced
population . 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
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
Chinese political economy was intended to capture the benefits of expanded production and
exchange 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.
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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