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At the dawn of the twentieth century, China's sovereignty was fragile at best. In the face of international pressure and domestic upheaval, young urban radicals-desperate for reforms that would save their nation-clamored for change, championing Western-inspired family reform and promoting free marriage choice and economic and emotional independence. But what came to be known as the New Culture Movement had the unwitting effect of fostering totalitarianism. In this wide-reaching, engrossing book, Susan Glosser examines how the link between family order and national salvation affected state-building and explores its lasting consequences. Glosser effectively argues that the replacement of the authoritarian, patriarchal, extended family structure with an egalitarian, conjugal family was a way for the nation to preserve crucial elements of its traditional culture. Her comprehensive research shows that in the end, family reform paved the way for the Chinese Communist Party to establish a deeply intrusive state that undermined the legitimacy of individual rights.

Domestic relations --- Family policy --- Families --- Families and state --- State and families --- Public welfare --- Social security --- Social policy --- History. --- Government policy --- China --- History --- S02/0200 --- S11/0493 --- S11/0700 --- S11/0701 --- S11/0710 --- China: General works--Civilization and culture --- China: Social sciences--Society: 1911 - 1949 --- China: Social sciences--Clan and family: general and before 1949 (incl. names, clan rules) --- China: Social sciences--Clan and family in transition: general and before 1949 --- China: Social sciences--Women: general and before 1949 --- Familles --- Politique familiale --- Histoire --- Droit --- Chine --- 20th century. --- china. --- chinese culture. --- chinese history. --- civil rights. --- communist party. --- conjugal family. --- economic independence. --- egalitarian society. --- family order. --- family reform. --- government control. --- human rights. --- individual rights. --- marriage choice. --- modern china. --- national salvation. --- nationalism. --- new culture movement. --- patriarchy. --- reform. --- republican era. --- social change. --- sovereignty. --- state building. --- surveillance. --- totalitarianism. --- urban radicals.