Evolution of Chinese Society in the Early 20th Century: State and Local Elite in Henan, 1900-1937

Author: Zhang Xinyue, Qianhou Zhang Wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: The relationship between the state and local society in Henan during the Republican era existed in two entirely different models: the northern part of Henan was a model where a strong state coexisted with a weak society, while the southwestern part was the opposite. By examining the formation of these two models, the author concludes that modern state-building is not a top-down process but an interactive process between the state and local society, the outcome of which is often predetermined by long-term social evolution.