Twentieth-Century China: New Approaches

Twentieth-Century China: New Approaches is an important revisionist study of China’s recent past. The chapters throw light on a variety of subjects within the field, which has recently undergone considerable changes. The three major parts of this reader take into account the historical shape of the century, local perspectives on national history, and reflections on cultural history. The chapters in this volume reflect a move away from a Western-centered analysis of Chinese history, as well as the new wealth of archival material made accessible over the last decade. They highlight in challenging ways important topics that have generated considerable excitement among historians. Subjects discussed include the watershed date of 1949, feminism, the revolutions, the discourse of the communist party, and political theatre in modern China. This reader will be indispensable reading for anyone interested in new approaches to the field of contemporary Chinese history.