Changing British attitudes to China and the Chinese, 1928-1931
This study examines the context and nature of British attitudes to China and the Chinese in the period 1928 to 1931, between the initial consolidation of the Nationalist Revolution in China and the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. The relationship between official and popular levels of this discourse provides the dominant theme of this work. It is argued that these years saw the start of a major long-term shift in British attitudes prompted by the Nationalist Revolution and by changes in Britain's official policy towards China. A wide range of official, institutional, and private primary and secondary material relating to Sino-British relations and to British treaty port life in China is examined in order to identify the sources, nature, and influence of British attitudes. The introduction surveys the existing literature on ~attitudes~ and ~images~ and outlines the limitations of traditionally textually-based approaches. Part 1 examines metropolitan and treaty port sources of British attitudes and their articulation and relates these to the structure and mores of British society in China, its socialisation of new arrivals, and its relations with the Chinese as hosts, competitors, colleagues, customers and employees.
Bickers, Robert A.
Nationalist Revolution; Sino-British relations
Changing British attitudes to China and the Chinese, 1928-1931. This study examines the context and nature of British attitudes to China and the Chinese in the period 1928 to 1931, between the initial consolidation of the Nationalist Revolution in China and the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. The relationship between official and popular levels of this discourse provides the dominant theme of this work. It is argued that these years saw the start of a major long-term shift in British attitudes prompted by the Nationalist Revolution and by changes in Britain's official policy towards China. A wide range of official, institutional, and private primary and secondary material relating to Sino-British relations and to British treaty port life in China is examined in order to identify the sources, nature, and influence of British attitudes. The introduction surveys the existing literature on ~attitudes~ and ~images~ and outlines the limitations of traditionally textually-based approaches. Part 1 examines metropolitan and treaty port sources of British attitudes and their articulation and relates these to the structure and mores of British society in China, its socialisation of new arrivals, and its relations with the Chinese as hosts, competitors, colleagues, customers and employees.
changing british_attitude china chinese study_examines context nature british_attitude china chinese period initial consolidation nationalist revolution china japanese invasion relationship official popular level discourse provide dominant_theme work argued year saw start major long_term shift british_attitude prompt nationalist revolution change britain official_policy towards china wide_range official institutional private primary_secondary material_relate sino british relation british treaty_port life china examine order_identify source nature influence british_attitude introduction_survey exist_literature attitudes images outline limitation traditionally textually based_approach part examines metropolitan treaty_port source british_attitude articulation relate structure more british_society china socialisation new arrival relation chinese host competitor colleague customer employee