mambo-admin.com

Book Review: Modern China’s Network Revolution

Chen, Zhongping. Modern China’s Network Revolution: Chambers of Commerce and Sociopolitical Change in the Early Twentieth Century. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2011. xxi, 289 pp. $55.00 (cloth)

By Brett Sheehan

The title of Zhongping Chen’s new book has a double meaning. Modern China’s Network Revolution refers both to his claim for new, revolutionary forms of networking among lower-Yangzi Chinese elites at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries and to the revolutionary roles of those networks in elite mobilization, especially in the 1911 revolution which overthrew the Qing. As such, the book makes a meaningful contribution to debates on the nature of Chinese organizational practices, especially merchant organizational practices, and to debates about the nature of late-Qing elite mobilization and the relationship of those mobilized elites to the state.

The first three chapters focus on the new organizational forms, or what Chen calls associational networks (p. 7). Chen traces the beginnings of chambers of commerce, their growth and their bourgeoning relationships with each other. Specialists will appreciate the detailed information on specific merchants and organizations in these chapters, though general readers might find the number of names daunting. In theorizing about new organizational forms, Chen does not dismiss particularism as important in network formation, but he does argue for the importance of formal organization. Chen summarizes the gist of this organizational revolution as a series of new institutional norms and links: “formal leadership, membership, periodic meetings, competitive elections, network hierarchy” (p. 208). The result was organizations which were neither natural results of earlier guild evolution nor simple imitations of Western counterparts (p. 18).

Chen shows the “revolutionary” results of these new institutions in a series of fascinating case studies. Chapter four discusses the extension of relationships among chambers of commerce as they banded together for the 1905 anti-American boycott, became involved in municipal governmental affairs, especially in Shanghai, and as they helped found other new organizations such as the extremely important merchant militias. Chapter five portrays chamber activities in the commercial and industrial realms as chambers organized tax protests, became involved in the Railroad Rights Recovery Movement, organized the Nanyang industrial exposition, and negotiated with American business interests. Chapter six provides an absorbing account of chamber involvement in the growing constitutional movement and then eventually in the revolts and secessions of the 1911 revolution which overthrew the Qing dynasty. Chen argues that the revolution did not, as some have claimed, grow out of the railway rights recovery movement which peaked in 1907, four years before lower-Yangzi businesspeople broke from the Qing (pp. 158-159). Chapter seven carries the story beyond 1911 to discuss the fates of lower Yangzi chambers in the republican period after 1911, but this chapter has less detail and is less satisfying than the other rich cases studies.

Chen’s topic fits within a series of important debates about local elites in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. Taking a middle ground in terms of the balance between state and local power, the book portrays chambers as a combination of state-down direction and bottom-up mobilization on behalf of merchants (p. 56). Thus, initially the Qing court preferred merchant leadership for chambers so these new organizations would not enhance the power of the government’s own provincial officials at the expense of the center (p. 52). At the same time, once formed, “official attempts to divide and rule chambers failed” (p. 76). The chambers were creatures of the state and simultaneously tools of local elites. Merchant elites, however, were not just interested in local dominance, but also showed public interests and joint actions with the populace against both the Qing government and foreign encroachment (p. 14).

Although this last conclusion echoes the public sphere debates of two decades ago, Chen is careful to avoid this terminology. He shows that the relationship between merchants and the state is more complex than many arguments about the public sphere allow, and he presents a picture of “interactive dynamics and changeable relations with the state” (p. 16). Some of Chen’s more interesting examples of this interaction come when chambers cooperate with the state in some areas while simultaneously protesting against the state in others. During the railway rights recovery movement, merchants approached the Qing court for an under-the-table loan to finance joint projects with Americans in spite of their disgust with the government over the railway issue (pp. 156-159, 167).

In some places Chen’s terminology is hard to pin down. For example, he excludes “old style” shops from his list of capitalist enterprises without defining capitalism (p. 92). The reader is left with the impression that capitalist simply means Western. More central to Chen’s argument, he divides merchants as either “elite” or “common” with the former having elite connections and gentry training (p. 77), but throughout the book there are references to elite merchants, chamber leaders, gentry, and sometimes just “elites” without any clear sense of discrete groups.

In addition, Chen argues for connections between merchant elites and the populace through shared provincialism, nationalism, and economic interest (p. 156). While large crowds showed up at chamber-sponsored patriotic events and people subscribed to railway shares in fairly large numbers, it is hard to see what shared economic interest elite merchants and ordinary Chinese shared. Chen himself acknowledges elsewhere that chambers’ primary concern was for elite merchant interests (p. 148).

Most importantly, it is clear from the evidence in this book that chambers of commerce were only part of the story of elite networks. At almost every turn, the chambers of commerce cooperated with other elite groups such as education associations and local gentry. Chamber of commerce organizations were clearly only one manifestation of larger elite networks and a fuller description of those networks might show more personal links and less reliance on formal organization. Thus, the book effectively proves that late Qing chambers of commerce were important both at the local and national levels, but the claim of “institutionalized and irreversible change” (p. 207) is less convincing.

Brett Sheehan is Associate Professor of Chinese History at the University of Southern California

© 2012 by Twentieth-Century China Editorial Board. All rights reserved.

TV tonight: Timothy Olyphant shines on ‘Justified’; ‘Tosh.0? returns; ‘Key & Peele’ debuts

Timothy Olyphant in a look you won't see him wear on 'Justified.' Photo credit: Craig Barritt/Getty Images

The Florida primary results may be the biggest show on television tonight. But there are other options. Consider:

1. “Justified,” at 10 on FX, delivers a scorching episode called ”Harlan Roulette.” This variation on Russian roulette results in some wrenching television.  The bad guys are colorful: Pruitt Taylor Vince as a brutal pawnshop owner, Jere Burns as a sniveling provider of security systems and Neal McDonough as a mob fixer. Yet this episode is a first-rate demonstration of how star Timothy Olyphant dominates the show through his charismatic performance as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens.

2. Daniel Tosh starts a new season of “Tosh.0″ at 10 on Comedy Central.  The channel’s most popular series is a showcase for Tosh’s take-no-prisoners comedy style. Did he learn that growing up in Titusville or going to the University of Central Florida?

3. Lucy Liu and Carl Lumbly continue their guest roles on “Southland” at 10 o’clock on TNT. The channel provided this preview: “Sammy lets old grudges die hard when he leaves a gang territory unattended, only to have a violent gang war erupt throughout the city. Ben’s recent mistake continues to haunt him publicly everywhere he goes.”

4. Comedy Central rolls out the premiere of “Key & Peele,” a promising sketch comedy, at 10:30. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele send up cooking shows, rap videos, Ancestry.com and trash-talking husbands who cower around their wives. In the most audacious bit, Barack Obama hires an anger translator. “I have a birth certificate,” the translator screams.  

5. “Glee” delivers its Michael Jackson tribute at 8 p.m. on Fox. Fox also presents new episodes of “New Girl” at 9 and “Raising Hope” at 9:30.

6. “The Biggest Loser” is new at 8 on NBC. But affiliate WESH will offer a primary special at 10; the program will be simulcast on sister station WKCF-Channel 18.

Sanford spouses share money trouble on ‘Anderson’

Tuesday on his talk show, Anderson Cooper explores how the recession has hurt marriages. Photo credit: Telepictures

A Sanford couple will discuss how the great recession has damaged their marriage on Tuesday’s edition of “Anderson.”

Anderson Cooper’s syndicated talk show airs at 2 p.m. weekdays on WESH-Channel 2.

Penny and Justin Musick explain how financial hardship has left them reeling.

The “Anderson” show provided this preview: “Penny was pregnant with twins on bed rest when Justin lost his company and livelihood, and is upset that Justin is still at home.”

Life coach Mel Robbins will offer a four-step plan to help struggling marriages.

This week: ‘Big Bang Theory’ showdown; ‘Glee’ salutes Michael Jackson; ‘Tosh.0? begins new season

Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is acting more selfish than usual, which upsets Leonard (Johnny Galecki) on 'The Big Bang Theory.' Photo credit: Michael Yarish/Warner Bros.

The February sweeps ratings period starts Thursday, which is very good news for viewers.

The broadcast networks’ schedules will be packed with special events (the Super Bowl, Grammys, Oscars) and new episodes through Feb. 29, when the ratings period ends.

On Thursday, everything is new, from “The Big Bang Theory” to “The Vampire Diaries” to “Grey’s Anatomy.”

The promo for “The Big Bang Theory,” at 8 p.m. Thursday on CBS, sounds particularly dire. CBS teases: “Leonard’s fed up with Sheldon. Could this be the end of the roommate agreement?”

Tuesday’s Florida primary will receive heavy coverage on cable. If the GOP presidential race is closer than expected, the coverage might expand on broadcast channels. There will be many reruns that night, but Fox will have fresh episodes. “Glee” salutes the music of Michael Jackson at 8.

“Tosh.0″ starts its fourth season at 10 p.m. Tuesday on Comedy Central. Star Daniel Tosh grew up in Titusville and graduated from the University of Central Florida.

On Wednesday, TCM starts its annual 31 Days of Oscar, a film festival that honors movies that earned Academy Award recognition. This year, the films are arranged by geography, and the first destination is Florida. The Florida films: “Beneath the 12-Mile Reef” at 6 a.m.; “Sweet Bird of Youth” at 7:45 a.m.; “The Yearling” at 9:45 a.m.; “Reap the Wild Wind” at noon; “Key Largo” at 2:15 p.m.; “Happy New Year” at 4 p.m.; and “Some Like It Hot” at 5:45 p.m.

“Who Do You Think You Are?” returns to the NBC lineup at 8 p.m. Friday to help more celebrities learn about their ancestry. First up: Martin Sheen, star of “The West Wing.”

Actor Channing Tatum will make his debut as host of “Saturday Night Live” this coming weekend. The band Bon Iver will be the musical guest at 11:30 p.m. Saturday on NBC.

Could Alzheimer’s be prevented by 2020?

Newt Gingrich, left, and Mitt Romney are the front-runners in Tuesday's GOP primary in Florida, according to polls. Photo credit: Scott Audette/Reuters

Here’s a program preview that caught my attention:

“Alzheimer’s should scare anyone over 40, but Dr. David Morgan tells us why he thinks the deadly disease can be prevented by 2020 and maybe even sooner!”

Morgan will be a guest on “Facing Florida With Mike Vasilinda” this weekend. The program airs at 12:30 p.m. Sunday on WFTV-Channel 9.

The public-affairs program also looks at how new election law could affect Tuesday’s primary. Then the program’s political experts, Pete Dunbar and Screven Watson, weigh in on the GOP primary.

Super Bowl ad: Matthew Broderick apes Ferris Bueller

Would Ferris Bueller help promote Honda?

Probably not. But Matthew Broderick, who played Ferris, will in a Super Bowl commercial. This preview is sweeping the Internet and upping interest in the ad, which will premiere Feb. 5 on NBC during the big game.

Stunningly effective promotion, wouldn’t you say?

It could make you want to hear “Twist and Shout” all over again or see “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” the John Hughes film that came out in 1986.

PBS tonight: Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Florida’s senior voters

Tony Bennett sings with Lady Gaga in the 'Great Performances' special on PBS.

PBS offers a double bill tonight that should interest many Florida viewers.

You’ll get to hear Tony Bennett sing, but first “Need to Know” looks at the power of Florida’s elderly voters. Jeff Greenfield reports on the issue days before Tuesday’s Florida primary. “Need to Know” notes that the state’s senior voters turn out in greater numbers than other groups. The program, at 8:30 p.m. on WUCF TV, also offers a Jon Meacham essay about the country’s obligations to the elderly.

“Tony Bennett: Duets II” from “Great Performances” follows at 9. The 90-minute special looks at the making of Bennett’s album in which the 85-year-old singer performs with Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Michael Buble, k.d. lang, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Queen Latifah, Norah Jones, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Faith Hill, Alejandro Sanz, Carrie Underwood and Amy Winehouse.

PBS says that full song performances include “Body and Soul” (with the late Winehouse), “The Lady Is a Tramp”(with Lady Gaga), “Speak Low” (with Norah Jones), “The Way You Look Tonight” (with Faith Hill), “It Had to Be You” (with Carrie Underwood) and “On the Sunny Side of the Street” (with Willie Nelson).