Research on the American Tax Collector in the Late Qing Dynasty (Centered on the Canton Custom House)

Author: Li Aili
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: This book, based on rich customs archives, showcases the professional activities of the American tax inspector, a foreign advisor to the late Qing customs. Following diplomats and missionaries, this book will draw more attention to the professional group of tax inspectors. The "Modern and Contemporary China: Politics and Society Transformation" academic series is the final outcome of the "985" research project at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, focusing on the relationship between political and social transformations in modern China. Politics is a broad and complex concept. This project broadly defines politics, expanding the research scope to political thought, political institutions, international environment, and foreign relations in modern China. Important political figures and major political events will be examined to integrate politics and society, exploring the relationship between politics and the economy, the impact of politics on education and talent cultivation, the role of politics in social stability and civilization progress, and the social effects of political attitudes and governance theories, policies, and methods of important figures. This project aims to conduct a multi-angle, multi-layered analysis using political sociology theories and methods to explore the interactive relationship between politics and society, measuring and evaluating the correctness of political ideas, propositions, and governance by the stability, progress, development, and degree of civilization of society. This is a new attempt. Modern Chinese politics emerged within the political framework of a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. On one side, capital imperialism and feudalism, as well as bureaucratic capitalism, held the ruling power over China; on the other side were the vast patriotic and revolutionary masses and various intellectuals pursuing progress and keeping pace with the times. These two sides represented the two social forces in China, reflecting the two prospects of modern China. Their political ideas, thoughts, and proposals for reforming China constrained the development path of modern China. Modern Chinese politics is the central content and foundational background for examining the social transformation of modern China. In modern China, political power is held by the broad masses, with the state's power center being the central government led by the Communist Party of China. The state concentrates its efforts on developing the economy, culture, and education, rapidly advancing Chinese society. Previous research on modern Chinese history has achieved substantial results and significant breakthroughs, but there are also shortcomings. For example, the key hub controlling the social transformation of modern China—political change—has relatively weak research on its social impact, with a more urgent need for research and higher requirements. There is also a trend of shifting research focus from various social aspects back to the center and an objective demand for improving research from specific studies to a holistic grasp. Previous political history research focused on class struggle and revolutionary movements, unidirectionally explaining the turmoil and instability caused by political change for society, which, to some extent, limited the expansion of research fields and theoretical advancement in modern Chinese political history. This project takes the interactive relationship between modern Chinese politics and social transformation as the basic starting point, establishing an innovative and era-specific macro-explanatory system based on existing micro-research. Guided by the expansion of observational scope and the deepening of research levels, it aims to enhance research standards through the combination of macro and micro approaches and innovative methodologies, opening up new paths. The history of modern Chinese politics is an important aspect of modern Chinese history research. Overall, past research has been characterized by both a large number of achievements and severe shortcomings, leaving considerable room for further development. Sun Yat-sen University has a strong tradition and advantage in researching modern Chinese political thought, political institutions, political figures, and international relations. It leads the domestic and international academic community in studies on Sun Yat-sen and modern Chinese politics, adhering to academic norms and fostering a spirit of seeking truth and collaboration among scholars. It has great potential in multiple areas. The research on the "Modern and Contemporary China: Politics and Society Transformation" project includes senior professors and doctoral supervisors, postdoctoral researchers, and the rest are doctoral graduates, forming a research team with a mix of experience levels. Each member explores new frontiers based on their interests and research findings. Many of their works are doctoral theses that received excellent evaluations from their defense committees and were published only after extensive revisions. They have conducted specialized research on the relationship between modern Chinese politics and society from different perspectives and angles, each with unique characteristics and strengths, demonstrating foresight and academic rigor. The "Modern and Contemporary China: Politics and Society Transformation" academic series presented to readers is the result of their hard work. We hope these achievements will help and inspire people to understand the relationship between politics and social transformation from new angles. Of course, we also expect criticism and corrections from readers and the academic community.