Rethinking the âYellow Perilâ: Charles Pearsonâs Views and Related Debates
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Abstract
At the end of the nineteenth century, texts and discourses around the world abounded with fear and contempt for Chinese immigrants, specifically contract workers. This outpouring is remembered as talk of a âYellow Peril.â Charles Pearson introduced the theme (though not its best-known phrase) to the English-speaking world in 1893, with the publication of a bleak manifesto heâd written about the Westâs future as he saw it. The present article examines Pearsonâs views and the intellectual debates regarding them. A century ago, the international supply of Chinese workers contributed little to Chinaâs prosperity. Today, as a center of consumer goods supply, China contributes to the prosperity of the Western capitalist world while continuing its own rapid economic growth. For this reason, todayâs apprehension about China is based on the fear of the emergence of a communist regime as a superpower. In this respect, the current fear of China differs from the âYellow Perilâ discourse of the past. Nevertheless, the discourse may have influenced todayâs concerns and apprehensions about China.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 796 | 175 | 18 |
| Full Text Views | 43 | 8 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 120 | 30 | 0 |
Rethinking the âYellow Perilâ: Charles Pearsonâs Views and Related Debates
In: Asian Review of World HistoriesSearch for other papers by Young-Suk Lee in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
At the end of the nineteenth century, texts and discourses around the world abounded with fear and contempt for Chinese immigrants, specifically contract workers. This outpouring is remembered as talk of a âYellow Peril.â Charles Pearson introduced the theme (though not its best-known phrase) to the English-speaking world in 1893, with the publication of a bleak manifesto heâd written about the Westâs future as he saw it. The present article examines Pearsonâs views and the intellectual debates regarding them. A century ago, the international supply of Chinese workers contributed little to Chinaâs prosperity. Today, as a center of consumer goods supply, China contributes to the prosperity of the Western capitalist world while continuing its own rapid economic growth. For this reason, todayâs apprehension about China is based on the fear of the emergence of a communist regime as a superpower. In this respect, the current fear of China differs from the âYellow Perilâ discourse of the past. Nevertheless, the discourse may have influenced todayâs concerns and apprehensions about China.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 796 | 175 | 18 |
| Full Text Views | 43 | 8 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 120 | 30 | 0 |
