China and Historical Capitalism Genealogies of Sinological Knowledge [Paperback]

A collaborative volume aimed at correcting the view of China as a failed version of the West.Until recently, capitalism has been regarded as unique to Europe and as an organic outgrowth of Western civilization. By examining China in these Eurocentric terms China has been perceived, by Westerners and Asians alike, to be a failed version of the West. The aim of this collaborative project is to examine how the experience of capitalism as a European social formation, and as a world-system, has shaped knowledge of China. In addition the volume seeks to establish new foundations on which a theory of Chinese society might be built.Until recently, capitalism has been regarded as unique to Europe and as an organic outgrowth of Western civilization. By examining China in these Eurocentric terms China has been perceived, by Westerners and Asians alike, to be a failed version of the West. The aim of this collaborative project is to examine how the experience of capitalism as a European social formation, and as a world-system, has shaped knowledge of China. In addition the volume seeks to establish new foundations on which a theory of Chinese society might be built.Until recently, capitalism has been regarded as unique to Europe and as an organic outgrowth of Western civilization. By examining China in these Eurocentric terms, China has been perceived, by Westerners and Asians alike, to be a failed version of the West. The aim of this collaborative project is to examine how the experience of capitalism as a European social formation, and as a world system, has shaped knowledge of China. In addition the volume seeks to establish new foundations on which a theory of Chinese society might be built.Introduction Gregory Blue and Timothy Brook; 1. The West, capitalism and the modern world-system Immanuel Wallerstein; 2. China and Western social thought Gregory Blue; 3. Capitalism and the writing of modern history in China Timothy Brook; 4. Toward a critical history of non-Western techlCž