2014 Wiles Lectures by Prof Rana Mitter

Lecture 2: Chongqing: the moulding of a new society

Thursday 29 May, 5pm: Peter Froggatt Centre Room G/024, QUB

How did war affect the relationship between state and citizen in wartime China? During the war period, Chongqing was at the centre of major efforts to institute social change in the face of wartime destruction.  In areas including refugee relief, healthcare, public hygiene, and air-raid protection, the city had to develop methods to deal with the social crises caused by war in the midst of increasing economic crisis.  One of the most important elements in triggering change were transnational agencies that combined with indigenous sources of knowledge and practice.