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Questions and Answers
What characterizes the 'Asiatic' trope as defined by Andrew Liu?
What characterizes the 'Asiatic' trope as defined by Andrew Liu?
Which theory exemplifies traditional Orientalism according to Liu?
Which theory exemplifies traditional Orientalism according to Liu?
How does Liu describe the shift in perceptions of China over time?
How does Liu describe the shift in perceptions of China over time?
What commonality exists between the wet-market theory and the lab-leak theory?
What commonality exists between the wet-market theory and the lab-leak theory?
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What was Montesquieu's primary viewpoint about China?
What was Montesquieu's primary viewpoint about China?
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What limitation did Hegel express regarding his view of China?
What limitation did Hegel express regarding his view of China?
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According to Marx's structural determinism, what was overlooked in China's development?
According to Marx's structural determinism, what was overlooked in China's development?
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What connects the 'Asiatic' trope to broader societal fears, as identified by Liu?
What connects the 'Asiatic' trope to broader societal fears, as identified by Liu?
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What does Orientalism represent in the context of Western perceptions of the East?
What does Orientalism represent in the context of Western perceptions of the East?
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Which perception of China is associated with the wet-market theory during COVID-19?
Which perception of China is associated with the wet-market theory during COVID-19?
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What do local actors in Myanmar prioritize that undermines Beijing's goals?
What do local actors in Myanmar prioritize that undermines Beijing's goals?
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How does the lab-leak theory differ from traditional Orientalist views of China?
How does the lab-leak theory differ from traditional Orientalist views of China?
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What was a major governance failure in Myanmar attributed to misaligned incentives?
What was a major governance failure in Myanmar attributed to misaligned incentives?
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What role did foreign states like Korea and Japan play in China's foreign policy?
What role did foreign states like Korea and Japan play in China's foreign policy?
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Why is the Asiatic Mode of Production referred to as a 'magic concept' by Rebecca Karl?
Why is the Asiatic Mode of Production referred to as a 'magic concept' by Rebecca Karl?
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How did China achieve limited success in North Korea?
How did China achieve limited success in North Korea?
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What is a significant consequence of archival choices in history?
What is a significant consequence of archival choices in history?
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Which of the following describes historians' reliance on archives?
Which of the following describes historians' reliance on archives?
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What does the State Transformation framework explain about China's policy outcomes?
What does the State Transformation framework explain about China's policy outcomes?
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What stereotypes about China are reflected in both wet-market and lab-leak theories?
What stereotypes about China are reflected in both wet-market and lab-leak theories?
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How did John Fairbank view the tribute system?
How did John Fairbank view the tribute system?
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What is a commonality between the perspectives of Montesquieu, Hegel, Marx, and Weber regarding China?
What is a commonality between the perspectives of Montesquieu, Hegel, Marx, and Weber regarding China?
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What is a strength of the Orchestration framework?
What is a strength of the Orchestration framework?
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What aspect of the Macartney Mission was most highlighted in archival selections?
What aspect of the Macartney Mission was most highlighted in archival selections?
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Which term best describes the theoretical fears that Western narratives oscillate between regarding China?
Which term best describes the theoretical fears that Western narratives oscillate between regarding China?
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Which of the following is true regarding the weaknesses of the frameworks discussed?
Which of the following is true regarding the weaknesses of the frameworks discussed?
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What does the term 'wet-market theory' imply about Chinese culture during the COVID-19 pandemic?
What does the term 'wet-market theory' imply about Chinese culture during the COVID-19 pandemic?
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What can historians do to counteract archival bias?
What can historians do to counteract archival bias?
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What is the recommended approach to understanding China's governance mechanisms?
What is the recommended approach to understanding China's governance mechanisms?
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According to the content, what was one effect of focusing on ceremonial and ritual records in history?
According to the content, what was one effect of focusing on ceremonial and ritual records in history?
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Which conclusion reflects the best understanding of China's activities abroad?
Which conclusion reflects the best understanding of China's activities abroad?
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What was a critical argument made by Henrietta Harrison regarding the letter to George III?
What was a critical argument made by Henrietta Harrison regarding the letter to George III?
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What was a key factor in Justin Yifu Lin's explanation for China's stagnation?
What was a key factor in Justin Yifu Lin's explanation for China's stagnation?
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Which of the following statements aligns with Kenneth Pomeranz's argument?
Which of the following statements aligns with Kenneth Pomeranz's argument?
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Which critique is made by Rebecca Karl regarding cultural determinism?
Which critique is made by Rebecca Karl regarding cultural determinism?
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What is one weakness of Justin Yifu Lin's argument?
What is one weakness of Justin Yifu Lin's argument?
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According to Landes, which of the following factors is seen as a root cause of divergence?
According to Landes, which of the following factors is seen as a root cause of divergence?
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Kenneth Pomeranz argues that the divergence was influenced by which of the following?
Kenneth Pomeranz argues that the divergence was influenced by which of the following?
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What does Rebecca Karl argue about state intervention in China?
What does Rebecca Karl argue about state intervention in China?
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What weakness is highlighted in Pomeranz's argument?
What weakness is highlighted in Pomeranz's argument?
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What was one of the strategic needs served by the tribute system according to modern critiques?
What was one of the strategic needs served by the tribute system according to modern critiques?
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Which emperor is noted for utilizing tributary diplomacy with a mix of ritual and practical goals?
Which emperor is noted for utilizing tributary diplomacy with a mix of ritual and practical goals?
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What pragmatic concern did Qianlong reveal when responding to the Macartney mission?
What pragmatic concern did Qianlong reveal when responding to the Macartney mission?
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How did mainstream assumptions regarding Qing rulers' awareness of global changes differ from modern revisionist views?
How did mainstream assumptions regarding Qing rulers' awareness of global changes differ from modern revisionist views?
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What example demonstrates Qing rulers' strategic awareness of trade leverage?
What example demonstrates Qing rulers' strategic awareness of trade leverage?
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Which approach did Qing rulers adopt towards foreign relations with Russia?
Which approach did Qing rulers adopt towards foreign relations with Russia?
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What was one significant takeaway regarding the tribute system's relevance over time?
What was one significant takeaway regarding the tribute system's relevance over time?
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What term describes Qing diplomacy's approach to foreign relations with Britain and Russia?
What term describes Qing diplomacy's approach to foreign relations with Britain and Russia?
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Study Notes
Week 1 - Imagining China
- Edward Said's Orientalism defines a system of knowledge and power that uses the West's perspectives to dominate the East, portraying it as irrational, despotic, and static.
- Key binary oppositions: the West as rational and progressive, and the East as irrational and incapable of self-governance.
- Representation and control: Knowledge about the East becomes a tool for political domination.
- Modern relevance: The wet-market theory reflects traditional Orientalist views (lack of advancement and superstition) and the lab-leak theory reflects a new "Asiatic" trope, viewing China as hypermodern, sinister, and technologically powerful.
Week 1 - Imagining China
- Rebecca Karl's Asiatic Mode of Production (AMP): AMP is described by Marx as a pre-capitalist economic system characterized by shared land ownership, centralized despotic rule, and stagnation which is unable to advance to capitalism without external intervention.
- Karl argues that AMP is a "magic concept" – a recurring theoretical framework, despite its inconsistencies. Karl also considers it an ideological tool used for framing China's historical path, rather than a historical reality.
Week 1 - Imagining China
- Andrew Liu: Orientalism versus Asiatic tropes. While Orientalism (Said) portrays the East as backward, despotic, and irrational, the Asiatic trope (Liu) views China as hypermodern, calculating, technologically advanced, economically efficient, and threatening.
- COVID-19 narratives: Wet market theory reflects traditional Orientalist stereotypes, while lab-leak theory reflects the "Asiatic" trope, depicting contemporary fears about China's technological power.
Week 1 - Imagining China
- Montesquieu, Hegel, Marx, and Weber offer historical perspectives on China. Montesquieu viewed China as a despotic state lacking accountability; Hegel viewed China as outside of world history, trapped in stagnation; Marx argued that China's existing economic system prevents capitalism; and Weber emphasized Confucianism and Taoism in hindering the development of capitalism due to emphasis on social harmony and family piety.
- Their views were limited by interpretations through a Eurocentric lens, reinforcing the narrative of Western superiority.
Week 1 - Imagining China
- Key takeaway: Modern Sinophobia reflects anxieties about China's economic and technological advancements rather than traditional Orientalist stereotypes.
Week 2 - The Great Divergence Debate
- David Landes: Europe industrialized due to cultural and institutional superiority (individualism, property rights, scientific rationalism). China's stagnation was attributed to despotism, collectivism, and state overreach in markets.
- Justin Yifu Lin argues that China's stagnation resulted from an equilibrium trap, where labor-intensive agriculture absorbed surplus resources, preventing capital accumulation. A lack of modern science and scientific education, limited China's capacity for industrialization.
- Kenneth Pomeranz: Europe and China were similar until 1800. Unequal access to resources (coal and colonies) gave Europe an advantage in industrialization.
- Rebecca Karl critiques cultural determinism and oversimplification. Global conjunctures and historical specificity are highlighted as important factors in understanding differential growth trajectories.
Week 3 - Key Authors, Arguments, and Themes
- Emperor Qianlong's letter to George III: His statement "We possess all things" is not arrogance, but a reflection of China's self-perception as the center of the world through a tributary worldview.. The letter embodies China's role as a superior power in diplomacy and political projection, with self-sufficiency and internal virtue over foreign influence as key values.
- John Fairbank: The tribute system was the primary method for Chinese diplomacy, rooted in Sinocentrism. Foreign motivations often involved access to Chinese trade, and legitimacy; Chinese motivations emphasized prestige and cultural superiority. This was a hierarchical rather than egalitarian system. However, the model oversimplifies the dynamic and pragmatic realities of Chinese foreign relations.
- Matthew Mosca: The Qing was strategically aware and adaptable, managing foreign powers through segmented trade policies and pragmatic diplomacy, emphasizing their understanding of global geopolitics.
Week 3 - Key Authors, Arguments, and Themes
- Henrietta Harrison: The Macartney Mission is not well represented in historical accounts. Modern misrepresentations focused on the symbolic over strategic. Accounts often ignore the Qing's strategic concerns and motivations.
- Zhang Feng: Rethinking the tribute system by examining the dynamic and context-specific nature of Chinese diplomacy across different dynasties. Emphasized the interplay of discourse and interactions.
Week 8 - State Transformation and the Orchestration Framework
- Lee Jones and Shahar Hameiri (State Transformation): China is a fragmented, decentralized, and internationalized regulatory state with power dispersed across various agencies and local governments, while having autonomy.
- James Reilly (Orchestration): Local actors (SOEs, local governments) are mobilized to achieve foreign policy goals indirectly through incentives, oversight mechanisms, and aligning economic interests.
- Comparison: State transformation emphasizes policy incoherence and fragmentation, while Orchestration focuses on policy coherence and local successes.
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Description
Explore the complexities of Orientalism and the relevance of Edward Said's theories in today's context through this quiz. Additionally, delve into Rebecca Karl's interpretation of the Asiatic Mode of Production and its implications on our understanding of China's economic history. Test your knowledge on how representation and power dynamics shape perceptions of the East.
