How did Fairbank analyze China's response to imperialism?
I approached China's response to Western imperialism through a framework of structural analysis. I examined the existing Chinese imperial system, particularly its strengths and weaknesses, and how it grappled with unprecedented external pressures. This involved understanding the treaty port system, the impact of unequal treaties, and the ways in which Chinese elites and common people reacted to these challenges. It was a dialectical process, where external forces met internal structures and societal dynamics.
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