Shanghai in Transition: Western Identity and the Former French Concession

Abstract

Shanghai has become one of the most influential cities in the world due to its economic significance as the main port of trade for mainland China. Additionally, the city carries a unique identity in-part due to its former divisions into several foreign concessions during the age of imperialism. The most notable of these former divisions are the International Settlement and the French Concession. Due to the city’s historical ties to the West, recent research has begun to focus on discovering what the historical identity of Shanghai was and how it has affected modern China. This thesis is a reflection of the author’s time in Shanghai during the fall semester of 2016 and her perception of the preservation of Western identity within the French Concession as it compares to other foreign enclaves.