Protest with Chinese Characteristics: Demonstrations, Riots, and Petitions in the Mid-Qing Dynasty . By Ho-fung Hung . New York: Columbia University Press, 2011. Pp. xvi+253. $50.00 (original) (raw)

Protest with Chinese Characteristics explores the dynamics of collective action and social resistance in the Qing Dynasty, contrasting traditional Chinese protest methods with European models. Ho-fung Hung provides a framework for understanding protest cycles, influenced by the Qing state's political economy and perceptions of state capacity. While the study effectively highlights the cultural underpinnings that shaped protest actions, it suggests that factors such as alternative worldviews among protestors could enhance the analysis. Ultimately, the book serves as a significant contribution to the discourse on protest and state relations in historical China.