History & Area Studies / Thematic History / Comparative Transregional History

Transforming China: Historical Change and the Limitations of the European Experience中西历史转型国家、经济与社会之辩

China Transformed: Historical Change and the Limits of European Experience

R. Bin Wong

Historical Transformation in China and the West: The Debate on State, Economy, and SocietysourceChina's Transformation: Historical Change and the Limits of the European Experience (R. Bin Wong) Transforming China: Historical Change and the Limitations of the European Experience*, R. Bin Wong proposes an innovative two-way comparative historical approach, aiming to re-examine the historical development of China and the West by breaking down "Eurocentrism." The author first challenges the traditional theory that uses the European path as a universal standard, pointing out that before the Industrial Revolution, China and Europe shared many similarities in economic expansion and social structure driven by Smithian forces; the real economic divergence stemmed from recent technological breakthroughs. On the political level, the book systematically compares the differences between the two regions in state formation, fiscal governance, and social control, emphasizing the central role of China's unique patriarchal state tradition in social welfare and moral education. Through analyzing social conflicts such as food riots, tax resistance, and revolutions, the author reveals the unique fractal logic and continuity in the evolution of Chinese history, ultimately aiming to construct a global social theory that can accommodate diverse civilizational trajectories.