Beschreibung
Networks ranging from village level to transnational level have always
played a crucial role in Chinese society. The contributors to this volume
aim to trace the interaction between various networks which have existed
from the 19th century to the present day. The articles deal with
theoretical concepts, historical examples, such as non-state responses to
the North China Famine (1876 – 1879), the role of missionaries in the
modernization of China and disaster management, including recent
inter-ethnic business competition in Hong Kong, Han settlers in Xinjiang,
temple festivals in Macau and urban migrants’ social networks in today’s
China. By drawing on new material and theoretical frameworks, these
studies shed fresh light on the ways in which various forms of networks
have shaped Chinese society, while at the same time questioning
traditional and rigid perspectives of Chinese society based solely on
networks and guanxi.
Frau Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Mechthild Leutner
ist Professorin für Sinologie an der Freien Universität Berlin.
