The British state at the margins of empire : extraterritoriality and governance in treaty port China, 1842-1927
Existing studies of British expansion in China have often limited their exploration of the role of the state mostly to diplomatic and military actions. This thesis provides the first comprehensive account and assessment of another important aspect of this expansion: the British stateâs role in implementing a project of governance over British subjects at the treaty ports. The fact of extraterritoriality â the principle that the nationals of foreign powers were subject to their own governmentâs law rather than that of the state within the boundaries of which they were situated â is well known. But consular jurisdiction, the implementation in practice of the principle of extraterritoriality, has not been the subject of much research. This thesis describes the British state institutions and practices which were created to implement consular jurisdiction in China. It shows the factors that prompted and shaped the institutions and practices as they developed at the treaty ports, paying particular reference to the role played by the need to manage marginal British subjects, viewed as problem populations, in that process. It then demonstrates how the stateâs response to such groups shaped the development
Thompson, Alex
The British state at the margins of empire : extraterritoriality and governance in treaty port China, 1842-1927. Existing studies of British expansion in China have often limited their exploration of the role of the state mostly to diplomatic and military actions. This thesis provides the first comprehensive account and assessment of another important aspect of this expansion: the British stateâs role in implementing a project of governance over British subjects at the treaty ports. The fact of extraterritoriality â the principle that the nationals of foreign powers were subject to their own governmentâs law rather than that of the state within the boundaries of which they were situated â is well known. But consular jurisdiction, the implementation in practice of the principle of extraterritoriality, has not been the subject of much research. This thesis describes the British state institutions and practices which were created to implement consular jurisdiction in China. It shows the factors that prompted and shaped the institutions and practices as they developed at the treaty ports, paying particular reference to the role played by the need to manage marginal British subjects, viewed as problem populations, in that process. It then demonstrates how the stateâs response to such groups shaped the development
british_state margin empire governance treaty_port china existing_study british expansion china often limit exploration_role state mostly diplomatic military action provide_first comprehensive_account assessment another_important aspect expansion british_state role implement project governance british subject treaty_port fact principle national foreign power subject government law rather state within_boundary situate well_know consular jurisdiction implementation practice principle subject_much research describes british_state institution_practice create implement consular jurisdiction china show factor prompt shaped institution_practice develop treaty_port pay particular reference role_play need manage marginal british subject view problem population process demonstrates state response group shape development