The Wobbling Pivot, China since 1800: An Interpretive History

This comprehensive but concise narrative of China since the eighteenth century builds its story around the delicate relationship between central government and local communities. 

• Rejects the traditional view of China as a wholly harmonious society based on principles of stability – the Unwobbling Pivot of Ezra Pound's translation of the Chinese classic Zhongyong

• Provides an original interpretation, arguing that developments can be explained through an understanding of China’s surprising swings between centralization and decentralization, between local initiative and central authoritarianism

• Serves as an introduction to the subject, while readers with a background in Chinese history will find the book offers a personal perspective and addresses long-standing interpretive issues

• Supported by a variety of timelines, maps, illustrations, and extensive notes for further reading

• Places China’s history within the context of global change
  

Avainsanat: Chinese History, Cultural Revolution, China, Mao, Zhou