Modern China in Flux heralds a transformative epoch in historical research, spotlighting the innovative methodology of network analysis. As the digital age unfolds, historians encounter both an unparalleled opportunity and a daunting challenge: navigating the vast digital repositories of historical data. Central to this volume’s discourse is the imperative for a methodological shift in examining modern China's historical research. By embracing the digital evolution, this volume highlights the promise of network analysis as a model for historians.

Modern China, rich in tales of socio-political upheavals, economic transformations, and cultural shifts, emerges as a nuanced tapestry of intertwined narratives. Capturing its intricacies necessitates an approach that illuminates the multiple connections, alliances, and conflicts that shaped its course. Here, network analysis proves invaluable. By exploring textual databases and archival documents, and leveraging the capabilities of full-text historical sources, historians can craft a dynamic, interconnected narrative of modern China. Previously obscured relationships come into sharp focus, revealing the delicate balance of power, influence, and change.