Jennifer Rudolph

Jennifer Rudolph is an Associate Professor in the Department of Asian History at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Her research focuses on the political and institutional transformations in late imperial China, particularly during the Qing dynasty, with an emphasis on reform efforts and administrative bureaucracy. She authored Negotiated Power in Late Imperial China: The Zongli Yamen and the Politics of Reform, a study of the Zongli Yamen (Foreign Office) and its role in reshaping Qing governance during the 19th century.

The book explores how Qing ministers utilized bureaucratic flexibility and historical precedent to manage foreign affairs, demonstrating institutional adaptability in a period of crisis. It is available as open-access under a Creative Commons Non Commercial – No Derivatives 4.0 International license. Her work bridges Chinese history, political institutions, and diplomatic history, offering critical insights into the evolution of state power in pre-modern Asia.