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9781350556027

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This perceptive survey of evolving British official attitudes towards 20th century China has a strong contemporary resonance at a time when an informed understanding of the People’s Republic of China as a major global power becomes increasingly important. * Gill Bennett OBE, King's College London, UK * Oliver Yule-Smith’s book breaks new ground in explaining how the culture and future trajectory of China was understood in the British Foreign Office, long before its rise crashed upon the strategic conscience of most western policymakers. This deeply researched book shows how China posed a civilisational dilemma - with much to admire in its scientific and political history, alongside a warning sign of weakness derived from a stunted version of modernisation. As a piece of scholarship, it fills a missing gap in how we understand the formation of the western strategic mind in the twentieth century. * John Bew, King's College London, UK * “Understanding British China policy has never been more important. Oliver Yule-Smith’s meticulous and deeply researched account of the ‘China Mind’ in the British Foreign Office provides vital analysis of the historical trajectory of a relationship that is still crucial today. This is powerful history with a real contemporary resonance.” * Rana Mitter, Harvard University, USA *

This perceptive survey of evolving British official attitudes towards 20th century China has a strong contemporary resonance at a time when an informed understanding of the People’s Republic of China as a major global power becomes increasingly important. * Gill Bennett OBE, King's College London, UK *

Author Information

Oliver Yule-Smith is the Ernest May Fellow in History & Policy at Harvard University, USA. He was previously the Ax:Son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy Research Fellow at the Centre for Grand Strategy in the Department for War Studies at King’s College London, UK.

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