The Fate of British and French Firms in China, 1949-54

This book takes a somewhat different view of international or diplomatic history by concentrating on the more profound elements of sino-foreign relations, namely the economic and the commercial, especially with regard to Britain and France. The immediate post-revolutionary period in China is viewed here in the wider context of Britain and France's post-imperial decline and expressions such as 'imperialism imprisoned' and 'captive capitalism' are some new and interchangeable terms employed in this context. In contrast to the traditional interpretation that Chinese policies regarding the old imperial powers involved nationalization of foreign companies through the expropriation of their property, this study shows that almost no such practice took place. Rather, instances of appropriation only occurred following an indirect, subtle and protracted process. It is precisely because of the uniqueness of the process and its relatively long duration that the new regime in China succeeded in achieving its goals, perhaps even exceeding them. This study is based on hitherto inaccessible public, private and company archives in Britain, France and China.

Autorentext

ARON SHAI is Head of the Departments of History and East Asian Studies at Tel Aviv University in Israel. He is the author of Origins of the War in the East: Britain, China, Japan 1937-1939, China in International Affairs 1840-1990, Britain and China 1941-1947: Imperial Momentum and Benhazar, an historical novel.

Inhalt

Abbreviations - Acknowledgements - Preface - Introduction - Britain and China: From Imperial Relations to Formal Equalization - The British Perception - The Chinese Perception - Seeking a Modus vivendi - The Closure of Taikoo Interests - The Closure of French Firms: A Different Case? - Indirect Nationalization and Its Aftermath - Appendices - Notes - Selected Bibliography - Index