War and State Formation in Ancient China and Early Modern Europe [Paperback]

This book, first published in 2005, explores why China and Europe's development of state systems began similarly but experienced opposite outcomes.There is a common belief that the system of sovereign territorial states and the roots of liberal democracy are unique to European civilization and alien to non-Western cultures. This view has generated popular cynicism about democracy promotion in general and China's prospect for democratization in particular. This book shows that China in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (656-221 BC) was once a system of sovereign territorial states similar to Europe in the early modern period. This book examines why China and Europe shared similar processes but experienced opposite outcomes.There is a common belief that the system of sovereign territorial states and the roots of liberal democracy are unique to European civilization and alien to non-Western cultures. This view has generated popular cynicism about democracy promotion in general and China's prospect for democratization in particular. This book shows that China in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (656-221 BC) was once a system of sovereign territorial states similar to Europe in the early modern period. This book examines why China and Europe shared similar processes but experienced opposite outcomes.There is a common belief that the system of sovereign territorial states and the roots of liberal democracy are unique to European civilization and alien to non-Western cultures. The view has generated popular cynicism about democracy promotion in general and China's prospect for democratization in particular. This book demonstrates that China in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (656-221 BC) consisted of a system of sovereign territorial states similar to Europe in the early modern period. It examines why China and Europe shared similar processes but experienced opposite outcomes.1. A dynamic theory of world politics; 2. The dl39