Book contents
- East Asia and the Modern International Order
- East Asia and the Modern International Order
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures and Tables
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Part I Introduction
- Part II The Imperial Era
- Part III To the Pacific War
- 7 Reform, Revolution, and State Failure in Early Twentieth-Century China
- 8 The Second Sino-Japanese War and Its Aftermath, 1931–1965
- 9 Japan and New Orders in East Asia, 1914–1945
- Part IV The High Cold War in Asia
- Part V Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
7 - Reform, Revolution, and State Failure in Early Twentieth-Century China
from Part III - To the Pacific War
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 November 2025
Book contents
- East Asia and the Modern International Order
- East Asia and the Modern International Order
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures and Tables
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Part I Introduction
- Part II The Imperial Era
- Part III To the Pacific War
- 7 Reform, Revolution, and State Failure in Early Twentieth-Century China
- 8 The Second Sino-Japanese War and Its Aftermath, 1931–1965
- 9 Japan and New Orders in East Asia, 1914–1945
- Part IV The High Cold War in Asia
- Part V Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
In the first two decades of the twentieth century, China saw a concerted effort by two regimes – the Qing Dynasty and the nascent Republic of China – to create modern state. Yet, by 1917 China entered an extended period of state failure, often referred to as the warlord period. This chapter explores the causes of state failure in China focusing on impact of international pressure on the late Qing regime, and after the 1911 revolution on the Republican era government of Yuan Shikai. While there were structural and fiscal problems that were central to the collapse of the state, the constant involvement of the foreign powers was a major contributor. As an increasingly nationalistic Chinese public wanted China to stand firm against foreign demands, the foreign powers pressured the government in China to uphold their interests.
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- East Asia and the Modern International OrderFrom Imperialism to the Cold War, pp. 133 - 147Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
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