How Useful Are Approaches Based on ‘Circulation’ for Understanding the Manchurian Plague of 1910-1911?

This paper explores the applicability of the 'circulation' concept in understanding the global and local dimensions of the Manchurian Plague of 1910-1911. The analysis is structured around three dimensions of the outbreak: the mechanisms of disease spread accelerated by global trade and rail networks, the interplay of international politics and public health cooperation amidst sovereignty conflicts, and the socio-cultural transformations driven by cross-border knowledge exchange. As a critical episode in the third global pandemic, the Manchurian Plague reveals how global trade, international politics, and public health strategies were intricately linked in the early 20th century. By examining how the circulation of people, goods, and information shaped responses to the epidemic, this study highlights the pivotal role of cross-regional and cross-cultural interactions in managing health crises. Thus, the concept of 'circulation' provides insightful perspectives on the transmission paths and impacts of diseases, demonstrating how global and local contexts interact to shape epidemic responses and their historical significance.