The Westernization Movement, also known as the self-improvement movement or the Guangtong New Deal, refers to the improvement movement of "learning from foreigners to control foreigners" from 1860 (Xianfeng 10) to 1894. After the British and French allied forces twice, the ruling class of the Qing government was divided into "Westernization School" and "Old School" on how to solve a series of internal and external problems. Westernization advocated the use of planned economy to develop industry and commerce and enhance national strength in order to safeguard the rule of the Qing government.

1. The Westernization School, with the slogan of "constantly striving for self-improvement", established a new military industry in various provinces by introducing large machine production technology. Such as Anqing Inner Ordnance Institute (Anqing, Anhui, Zeng Guofan), Tianjin Machine Manufacturing Bureau (Tianjin, Chonghou), Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau (Shanghai, Li Hongzhang), Jinling Manufacturing Bureau (Nanjing, Jiangsu, Li Hongzhang), Fuzhou Shipping Bureau (Fuzhou, Zuo, Shen Baozhen), etc., because the production management mode is feudal old-fashioned management, the products are only for government use, regardless of cost.

2. Because the military industry in the early stage spent a lot of money but didn't achieve obvious results, and the raw materials needed by the military industry were in short supply, the Westernization School decided to develop a number of civilian industries to raise funds with the slogan of "seeking money". Many products of these civilian industries are market-oriented and have the characteristics of modern capitalist industries. Kaiping Coal Mine (Kaiping, Hebei, Li Hongzhang), Hubei Weaving Layout (Wuchang, Hubei, Zhang Zhidong), Hanyang Iron Works (Hanyang, Hubei, Zhang Zhidong), Lanzhou Manufacturing Bureau (also known as Gansu Manufacturing Bureau, left), Gansu Weaving General Administration (also known as Lanzhou Machine Weaving Bureau) and other civilian industrial products have resisted the export of foreign capitalist countries to some extent.

After more than 30 years of Westernization Movement, it was proved bankrupt in the Sino-Japanese War of 1895. Li Hongzhang summed up his life in his later years: "I have been doing things all my life, training and the navy are paper tigers." How can I really put it down, but I can barely draw it, which is superficial and perfunctory for a while. "

There are many reasons for the failure of Westernization Movement. Huang Renyu pointed out in the Great History of China that the so-called "Westernization" is due to the emphasis on efficiency in western society, which is quite different from the traditional social habits in China. The use of every weapon is bound by traditional culture and concepts, which are affected in all aspects. If various industrial factories are set up, the society needs the cooperation of various commercial organizations, such as parts, banks, insurance, etc. , but these are what China lacked in the 19th century; Accounting has no perfect management concept, which leads to the inability to effectively verify accounting accounts; There is no standard for personnel control, because traditional culture lacks modern personnel management thinking.