TOPIC: Chinese Politics
SUBJECT: Political Science
TYPE: Essay (any type)
DESCRIPTION:
This is a very specific assignment. The prompt is as follows: Why did Imperial China experience such a sharp and rapid decline beginning in the early 19th century and ending in the early 20th century with the collapse not only of the Qing dynasty, but also of the entire imperial system? Why did the fall of the Qing lead, not to another installment of the dynastic cycle, but to a revolution in 1911-12 that brought an end of the dynastic era altogether? I have also provided all the reading/video sources necessary to put this paper together. Feel free to ask me any questions you might have. Albert Feuerwerker, “Ideology as a Unifying Element” (11-24) and “Emperor and Bureaucracy: The Political Order” (35-52) in State and Society in Eighteenth Century China. (R) Suisheng Zhao, “The Decline of the Chinese World Order,” in Power Competition in East Asia: 15-25. (R) Emperor Qianlong’s Letter to King George III (1793). LINK Zhao: 26-31. (R) Commissioner Lin Zexu’s “Moral Advice to Queen Victoria” (1839). LINK Video: “The Genius That Was China,” Part 2, excerpt (26 mins.) LINK Orville Schell and John Delury, “Western Methods, Chinese Core: Empress Dowager Cixi,” in Schell and Delury, Wealth and Power: China’s Long March to the Twenty-First Century: 62-89 (R) Video, “Autumn Gem” (56 mins.) LINK If these readings are not accessible, I can send the pdfs for the readings and links for the videos to the writer individually through email.
Imperial China, which had been one of the most prosperous and advanced civilizations in the world, experienced a sharp and rapid decline in the early 19th century that led to the collapse of the Qing dynasty and the entire imperial system in the early 20th century. This paper will explore the reasons behind this decline and the subsequent revolution that brought an end to the dynastic era altogether.
One of the key factors behind the decline of Imperial China was the increasing pressure and interference from Western powers. As Suisheng Zhao notes in “The Decline of the Chinese World Order,” Western powers began to challenge China’s traditional dominance in East Asia, which had been based on a tributary system of diplomacy. This system required tribute-paying states to acknowledge China’s supremacy and to engage in trade and cultural exchange, but it also meant that China was largely insulated from outside influences and did not have to engage with the modern world on its own terms. When Western powers began to demand equal trade relations and access to China’s markets, the Qing dynasty was ill-equipped to respond. The resulting conflicts, including the Opium Wars and the Boxer Rebellion, weakened China’s position and exposed the limitations of the imperial system.
Another important factor was the failure of the Qing dynasty to adapt to changing political and economic realities. As Albert Feuerwerker notes in “Emperor and Bureaucracy: The Political Order,” the Qing system of government relied on a highly centralized and bureaucratic administration that emphasized stability and continuity over innovation and progress. This made it difficult for the dynasty to respond effectively to internal challenges, such as corruption and rebellion, and to external pressures, such as Western imperialism. Furthermore, the Manchu ruling class that dominated the Qing dynasty was increasingly out of touch with the majority Han Chinese population, which contributed to a sense of dissatisfaction and disillusionment with the imperial system.
Despite these challenges, the collapse of the Qing dynasty did not lead to another installment of the dynastic cycle, in which a new dynasty would emerge to replace the old. Instead, the revolution of 1911-12 brought an end to the dynastic era altogether and marked the beginning of a new era in Chinese politics. One reason for this was the emergence of new political and social movements, such as the Boxers and the Taiping Rebellion, that challenged the traditional power structures and paved the way for more radical and revolutionary ideas. Another factor was the growing influence of Western ideas and technologies, which undermined the traditional Confucian values and institutions that had underpinned the imperial system for centuries.
The fall of the Qing dynasty also created an opportunity for revolutionary leaders, such as Sun Yat-sen and the Kuomintang, to mobilize popular support and to articulate a vision for a modern, democratic China. As Orville Schell and John Delury note in “Western Methods, Chinese Core: Empress Dowager Cixi,” the reform movement that emerged in the late Qing period was too little, too late, and was ultimately unable to prevent the collapse of the dynasty. However, it did lay the groundwork for future political and social movements that would shape the course of modern Chinese history.
In conclusion, the decline of Imperial China in the 19th and early 20th centuries was the result of a complex set of factors, including Western imperialism, internal weaknesses and failures, and the emergence of new political and social movements. The collapse of the Qing dynasty marked the end of the dynastic era and the beginning of a new era in Chinese politics, characterized by revolutionary change and the emergence of new political and social movements that would shape the course of modern Chinese history.
