The Rise and Fall of Imperial China: The Social Origins of State Development

Social networks shaped the imperial Chinese state, with short-lived emperors ruling a strong state and long-lasting emperors governing a weak one. Wang argues that Chinese rulers faced a trade-off between strengthening state capacity and keeping rulers in power, leading to the pursuit of power by fragmenting the elites.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 11 October 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

China, the world's leading superpower for nearly two millennia, has recently reclaimed its dominance after a temporary decline in the last two centuries. However, what factors contributed to the decline of imperial China?

The Rise and Fall of Imperial China provides a comprehensive examination of the Chinese state from the seventh century to the twentieth century. By focusing on the contrasting reigns of short-lived and long-lasting emperors, Yuhua Wang delves into the underlying factors that shaped the Chinese state. Wang argues that Chinese rulers faced a fundamental trade-off known as the "sovereign's dilemma." This dilemma emerged as strengthening state capacity and maintaining rulers in power required different social networks, where central elites were embedded. Wang explores how these social networks shaped the Chinese state and, in turn, how the rulers' pursuit of power through fragmenting the elites ultimately led to China's downfall.

Drawing on over a thousand years of Chinese history, The Rise and Fall of Imperial China highlights the crucial role of elite social relations in influencing the trajectory of state development. Wang's analysis sheds light on the complex interplay between political, social, and economic factors that contributed to China's rise and fall, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of imperial governance and the challenges faced by ancient civilizations. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in Chinese history, politics, and society.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691215174