Comparative Characteristics of the Chinese Polity as Factors in the Failure of China to Meet the Challenge of the West. This paper will argue that it is the conservatism of the Chinese polity during the Qing dynasty period which impeded the Chinese from adapting and modernizing in order to successfully meet the Western threat. 3 pgs. 13 f/c. 2b. Pages: 3 Bibliography: 2 source(s) listed Filename: 2178 Failure of China.doc Price: 26.85