State, Economy and the Great Divergence provides a new analysis of what has become the central debate in global economic history: the 'great divergence' between European and Asian growth. Focusing on early modern China and Western Europe, in particular Great Britain, this book offers a new level of detail on comparative state formation that has wide-reaching implications for European, Eurasian and global history.
Beginning with an overview of the historiography, Peer Vries goes on to extend and develop the debate, critically engaging with the huge volume of literature published on the topic to date. Incorporating recent insights, he offers a compelling alternative to the claims to East-West equivalence, or Asian superiority, which have come to dominate discourse surrounding this issue.
This is a vital update to a key issue in global economic history and, as such, is essential reading for students and scholars interested in keeping up to speed with the on-going debates.

◎作品看点
▲100年来最好看最完整的北洋国会历史
▲总统之争、派系厮杀、贿选丑闻、外交之辱，再现中国首次民主转型的阵痛
▲余世存、马勇、解玺璋等著名学者隆重推荐
◎内容简介
1911年，辛亥风云突变，告别帝制中国，走到了历史的十字路口。当此时，开国会、立宪法、建立共和政体，成为举国上下的最大诉求。仿佛国会一开，即可中华崛起。
作为亚洲第一个民主共和国的中华民国，政制的枢纽在于国会。以梁启超、宋教仁为首的议员，在国会上选总统、制宪法、监督政府、弹劾官员，距离一个宪政民主的中国，仿佛只有一步之遥。
历史的吊诡，恰在瞬息之间。宋教仁被刺、袁世凯称帝、二次革命兴起、曹锟贿选，一波紧随一波，国会三度解散，议员四处流散，十年制不出一部宪法。
本书生动、真实地再现1911-1928这段国会历史，探寻现代中国的首次民主转型，如何从万众期待之中，跌入万劫不复之境。