Introduction
Under the influence of the New Deal in the late Qing Dynasty, the abolition of the imperial examination system, and the end of the imperial system, the first three decades of the 20th century brought tremendous changes to Zhejiang elites. This book examines the social background, public activities, careers, and decision-making of local and provincial elites—the nonprofessionals who took on public responsibilities after growing problems in government led to a general collapse of public functions. Professor Xiao Bangqi divided Zhejiang counties into four regions according to their political and economic development levels, and carefully analyzed the complex process of social reshaping at the local level. Through an in-depth study of key figures and major events in China's political life in the 20th century, he reveals the common factors that made China part of the worldwide process of reconstruction, reform, and development.
