Customer Reviews

Anti-Drug Crusades in Twentieth-Century China

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Zhou Yongming's book on anti-drug campaigns in modern China provides interesting insights on a curious component of Chinese past and present. As primary a place as opium played in China's history during the 19th and 20th centuries, it is intriguing to see here how China dealt with the scourge and who was involved in the process. Zhou finds that, as much as an act for social welfare, anti-drug campaigns did, and continue to, play a dual role as nationalist drama.

Zhou's book is a great read for any China enthusiast. Well written and researched, it is also an accessible and quick read. As someone particularly interested in China's history during the Republican Era, it was enlightening to see the cast of characters and social institutions Zhou found playing a part in the early efforts to clean up the opium business. A similarly interesting story is true when turning to crackdowns on modern drug trafficking in contemporary China.