Call for Papers | Special Column on "Modern China and Shanghai"

Chinese Studies Monthly, a leading international academic journal dedicated to interdisciplinary research on China, is committed to advancing in-depth and multifaceted explorations of Chinese history, culture, society, and development. To deepen the understanding of the complex transformations in modern China and to examine the unique and pivotal role of Shanghai in this process, the journal now launches a special column titled "Modern China and Shanghai". We hereby invite high-quality academic papers from scholars worldwide.

 

Column Objectives

Modern China (roughly spanning from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century) was a critical period of profound upheaval and reconfiguration in social formations, political systems, economic structures, and intellectual culture. Shanghai, owing to its strategic geographical location and historical circumstances, rapidly emerged after its opening as a treaty port as China’s economic hub, cultural melting pot, international nexus, and a pioneer of modernization. This column aims to gather cutting-edge scholarly work that rigorously examines the monumental historical transitions of modern China, with particular emphasis on Shanghai’s role and influence in areas such as: Sino-foreign relations and the treaty port system; modern urban governance and social transformation; industrialization and the formation of financial markets; clashes and fusion of Chinese and Western cultures; the rise of new intellectual groups and the dissemination of ideas; revolutionary movements and political struggles; and the experiences of everyday life and modernity. We encourage research that reveals Shanghai’s connections with national and global networks, exploring how local experiences reflected and shaped the nation’s trajectory.

 

Suggested Topics (including but not limited to)

• Politics and Law: Governance and evolution of the foreign concessions and Chinese-administered areas in modern Shanghai, activities of political parties and revolutionary groups, patriotic movements, wartime resistance activities in Shanghai and its surrounding regions, etc.
• Economy and Trade: The formation and development of Shanghai as a domestic and international trade and financial center, Shanghai's role in modern industrialization, changes in modern enterprise systems, monetary and financial markets, shipping and transportation networks, etc.
• Society and Culture: Social stratification and mobility, immigrant communities and native-place associations, family structures and identity relations, changes in beliefs and customs, reforms in educational systems, transformation of urban spaces, etc.
• Intellectual History and Academia: The localization of Western learning and knowledge transformation in Shanghai, the publishing industry (newspapers, publishing houses) and the public discourse sphere, distinctive expressions in literature and art, the establishment of academic research institutions and the vibrancy of intellectual schools, etc.
• International Relations and Comparative Perspectives: Foreign communities in Shanghai, international interactions and cross-cultural exchanges, as well as comparative studies of Shanghai with other regions or global metropolises from the perspectives of global history and regional history.
• Theory, Methodology, and Historical Sources: New theoretical paradigms and analytical methods in the study of modern China and Shanghai, in-depth interpretation and application of newly discovered archives, periodicals, private documents, and other historical sources, as well as the introduction and critique of new research and perspectives.

 

Submission Requirements Academic Standards

Submissions must be original and unpublished scholarly research, featuring clear arguments, rigorous analysis, robust evidence, and strict adherence to academic ethics. The journal particularly welcomes contributions from graduate students and early-career scholars, as well as research that appropriately utilizes digital humanities tools such as generative artificial intelligence and emerging databases. We encourage submissions with well-defined research questions, original insights, and academic innovation. Both macro-level interpretations and micro-level empirical studies must demonstrate a solid research foundation.

• Language: Manuscripts are accepted in English or Chinese.
• Length: Recommended length is 8,000–12,000 words (English) or 8,000–25,000 characters (Chinese), including references and notes.
• Formatting: Should follow the citation style of previous paper of the journal's standard format.
• Structure: Include an abstract (approx. 300 words), keywords (5–8), main text, and a complete list of references.
• Author Information: Author's name, affiliation, contact details, and a brief biographical note (approx. 100 words, English version is necessary) must be provided on a separate title page to facilitate anonymous peer review.
• Submission: All manuscripts must be submitted electronically through the journal's online submission system: https://jandoopress.com/journal/csm/. Please select the "Modern China and Shanghai" column during submission.

 

Submission Deadline

Submissions for this special column are accepted on an ongoing basis. Manuscripts will undergo a centralized peer review process on a quarterly basis. Contributions from colleagues in the academic community are welcomed at any time.

 

For any inquiries regarding this special column, please contact the editorial office:

Email: csm@css-c.org (Note: This email address is for inquiries only. Manuscripts must be submitted through the official online submission system.)