Central power and state making: The Zongli Yamen and self-strengthening in China, 1860-1880

This thesis examines state making in China during the late Qing Dynasty, through a case study of a major Qing government bureau, an office of foreign affairs called the Zongli Yamen, created in 1861. This work examines the Zongli Yamen's efforts to strengthen the state during the 1860s and 1870s, and focuses on three areas: military reform, financial management, and the development of expertise on foreign matters within the bureaucracy. The Zongli Yamen imported western military technology and training methods for a new Banner army in Beijing called the Firearms Division. These new methods and technology, used both in Beijing and elsewhere, rejuvenated the armed forces of the Qing state and enabled it to subdue massive domestic rebellions. Under the Zongli Yamen's supervision, revenues on foreign trade and foreign loans were used to finance essential military activities, including the reconquest of Xinjiang, and the creation of a modern ordinance industry. The Zongli Yamen was also deeply involved in the development of expertise about the West within the Qing bureaucracy. Over time this facilitated the Qing state's engagement with the European dominated international state system, and led to the demarcation of borders that remain largely in place.; While the Zongli Yamen's efforts had a substantial impact, in the end, however, limited revenues and the diffusion of power within the state structure severely limited state making efforts. Resources were not available to expand existing projects and create new ones. The nature of the political structure made systematic reforms extremely difficult to implement.; This thesis was conducted under the supervision of Professor Philip A. Kuhn. It is based on archival research conducted in Taipei and Beijing, as well as the utilization of a large body of published primary materials in Chinese and English. It also draws on and critically evaluates theoretical approaches to the making of modern states, and demonstrates the value of comparative analysis of the Chinese state with its European counterparts.