Challenging the Mandate of Heaven

by Elizabeth J. Perry

Social science theories of contentious politics have been based almost exclusively on evidence drawn from the European and American experience, and classic texts in the field make no mention of either the Chinese Communist revolution or the Cultural Revolution -- surely two of the most momentous social movements of the twentieth century. Moreover, China's record of popular upheaval stretches back well beyond this century, indeed all the way back to the third century B.C. This book, by bringing together studies of protest that span the imperial, Republican, and Communist eras, introduces Chinese patterns and provides a forum to consider ways in which contentious politics in China might serve to reinforce, refine or reshape theories derived from Western cases.

Genres: China

Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

Reviews

[Chelsea Szendi · Rating 4 out of 5]

On first reading, I was really wary of this book. It seemed to be too invested in ideas of Chinese culture as an explanation for contentious politics. After reading Charles Tilly on the British case, some Hobsbawm on bandits, and thinking of the legacy of the "men of high purpose" in the case of Meiji Japan, I've warmed up to the idea that if nothing else, the idea of a legacy of protest is a powerful thing indeed.

Beyond that, Perry does write about some really colorful characters. Any of these chapters can be read alone for sheer narrative enjoyment.