Embeddedness And Autonomy: The Differences Of State Autonomy In The Late Qing Dynasty And The Early Republic Of China

This paper takes the evolution of the relationship between the state and rural society as the main line,which mainly concerns two core questions: 1.From the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China,what are the differences in the forms of the state embedded in rural society.2.How does national autonomy differ under different embedment forms.This paper tries to establish an analytical framework of "embeddedness and autonomy" with the theory of national autonomy,and carries out an empirical analysis of the differences between "embeddedness and autonomy" in three different historical periods around the changes of the relationship between the state and rural society in traditional China.In the book America and China,Mr.Fei Zhengqing called China "the country of gentry",and Mr.Fei Xiaotong called it "rural China".Therefore,according to the rural characteristics of traditional Chinese society,Xiangkeng Lake,a clan village located in western Fujian,was selected to carry out historical field investigation.Based on the investigation of the "public-private connection network" between the state and Xiangkeng Lake,it can be found that the forms of state embedding in Xiangkeng Lake are different in different historical periods,and the corresponding manifestations of state autonomy are also different in different embedding forms.In the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China,both the new policies in the late Qing Dynasty and the construction of grassroots political power in the early Republic of China were aimed at integrating and controlling the rural society,and the state power and organization were further embedded in Xiangkeng Lake,but Xiangkeng Lake turned away from the state and gradually got out of the state control.The longitudinal comparison of the case in three different historical periods shows the "paradox of embedment"--in order to realize rural control,the country deepens its embedment in the countryside,but with the deepening of the country’s embedment in the countryside,the countryside breaks away from the state control.This paper tries to give an empirical explanation from the perspective of the relationship between the embedded form and state autonomy,and mainly does two aspects of work: First,the application of relevant theories needs to define the related core concepts,so as to enhance the applicability of relevant theories and concepts to the actual situation in China.The core concepts need to be defined mainly include: State autonomy,state embeddedness,state objectives,state control,etc.Second,on the basis of clear relevant theoretical concepts,an analytical framework of "national goal--embedded form--degree of control--expression of national autonomy" is established.Centering on the analytical framework,a comparative analysis is carried out on three different historical periods of the case.Firstly,in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China,the state autonomy showed a dynamic change from strong to weak;Second,there is a negative correlation between the degree of national embedment in Xiangkeng Lake and national autonomy.Third,"appropriate embedment" can enhance the realization of national autonomy,but embedment may also cause the erosion of national autonomy,but be captured by society;Fourth,based on the above research findings,the concept of intrusive autonomy is proposed to describe the dynamic change process of national autonomy from strong to weak with the deepening of embedment.