The Study About The Interaction Between British Government In Weihai And Local Elites

In 1898, on the excuse of Russian rented Lvshun and Dalian, British rented Weihaiwei forcibly. The rented history of Weihai lasted for thirty-two years. In this period, British had not put too much administrative costs in Weihai, the financial expenditure of the government was comparative limited, the government functions also were not very broad, but among the thirty-two years, political, economic, judicial action and public utilities of Weihai all gained a great development, the local's evaluation to the British also changed a lot. This paper argues that the development and attitudes changing both benefit from the successful governance model of British Concessions of Weihai. As the influence of financial status, management object and British cultural tradition, British reference the local social control system and cultural tradition to some extent, they developed local autonomy actively, under the precondition of the social stability, they realized the transformation of administrative management system mildly. The governance mode help the British Concessions of Weihai gain the identification, and fully mobilize the enthusiasm of local elites to participate governance. Under this governance mode, the local elites not only maintained their original social status, but they also have more power and more playing space, they play more important roles in rural governance, economic development, public utilities and judicial action. The economic and social development of Weihai in the rented period is inseparable with the participation of local elites. The development of local autonomy not only saved the administrative cost but also cultivate the autonomy spirit and self-management ability. British Concessions of Weihai used the lowest costs achieved their management goals. Our country is during the administrative system reform period currently, summarizing the operation mode of British Concessions of Weihai and their interaction experience with the social elites will be very meaningful.