Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Illustrations ix
4. Acknowledgments xi
5. Introduction: Civilizations Do Not Clash; Empires Do 1
6. 1 The Semiotic Turn of International Politics 5
7. 2 The Birth of a Super-Sign 31
8. 3 Figuring Sovereignty 70
9. 4 Translating International Law 108
10. 5 The Secret of Her Greatness 140
11. 6 The Sovereign Subject of Grammar 181
12. Conclusion: The Emperor's Empty Throne 210
13. Appendix: Lin Zexu's Communication to Queen Victoria 229
14. Notes 243
15. Glossary of Selected Chinese Characters 297
16. Index 301