Review of "The Boxer Rebellion and the Great Game in China"

 

The Boxer Rebellion and the Great Game in China, David J. Silbey

 

            The Boxer Rebellion, published by Hill and Wang in 2012 examines the influence of imperialism and how it contributed to the emergence of the Boxers, the role of Christian missionaries in China, and how the Eight-Nation Alliance was able to defeat the Chinese. 

            Silbey argues the Boxer Rebellion was about more than just modernism, but it was a factor that led to the Boxer Rebellion.  To demonstrate this point he discussing the introduction of railroads to China.[1]  Although railroads provided enormous benefits to the Chinese economy, Silbey highlights the railroad also had enormous detriments.  Railroads eliminated the jobs of millions of people destroying their livelihoods, leading to political and social unrest.  Additionally, the privileged position the Chinese Christians, and the power the Christian missionaries held in Chinese society also contributed to the rebellion.  The Christian missionaries in China were “essentially exempt from Chinese law.  As part of a number of treaties, foreign nationals came only under the law of their home country.  They were essentially immune to the power of Chinese authorities.[2]”  Silbey states that: “whether the missionaries wanted it or not, an alternate power structure in Chinese communities as, Chinese Christians were protected by the missionaries from Chinese law.[3]  As the missionaries were exempt from Chinese authority, the Chinese people had to treat the missionaries with respect, out of fear the western powers would intervene with potential military force.  In turn, this caused the local officials to intervene in disputes on the behalf of the Chinese Christians which led the Chinese to believe it was impossible to resist the power of the churches except through violence.[4] 

He further demonstrates argues the war was extremely difficult for the Eight-Nation Alliance to win.  He highlights the first expedition to relieve the legations in Peking was nearly destroyed, and it was only saved when the expedition through luck found a Chinese armory.[5]  Further, the breakdown of the Allied command threatened the allies, as they were unable to coordinate their actions during the later stages of the campaign.[6]  Silbey argues if the Chinese troops were more effective, it is possible the second expedition could have been defeated.[7]  The failure to create a unified command by the Eight-Nation Alliance mirrored the international rivalries between these powers.[8]  Each nation did not want to put their troops under the command of another nation and relinquish power.[9]  They believed this would provide an advantage to the commanding nation,

The Boxer Rebellion and the Great Game in China is a well-written narrative, and it provides a thorough overview of the Boxer Rebellion.  Although focusing on military matters, the book provides sufficient information for the reader to understand the background of the Rebellion as well as the international and local social and political situation. 

---

[1] Silbey., 31-33.

[2] Ibid., 35.

[3] Ibid. 36.

[4] Ibid., 36.

[5] Ibid., 87-90.

[6] Ibid., 135-137.

[7] Ibid., 180-181.

[8] Ibid., 134.

[9] Ibid.