Le Péril Jaune

A sociological treatise written in the late 19th century. The book discusses concerns surrounding the economic competition posed by Asian labor, particularly Chinese workers, to European workers. It delves into themes of race, labor, and economics, addressing the societal anxieties of the time regarding immigration and the perceived threat of non-European workers to Western civilization. In this book, Novikov argues against the prevailing pessimistic views of his era that feared an imminent downfall of European civilization due to cheaper Asian labor. He critically examines the assumption that Chinese workers would undercut European wages and ultimately lead to the demise of Western society. Instead, he emphasizes that the wages of labor are determined by economic factors rather than racial characteristics, and he asserts that as economic mobility and educational opportunities increase, workers’ wages will also rise. He parallels the competition between Asian labor and European industrial practices, highlighting how technological advancements in industry diminish the significance of wage disparities and ultimately benefit consumers through lower prices. Throughout the book, Novikov provides a detailed analysis of labor dynamics and refutes the notion of a deterministic socio-economic decline due to the competition from Asian workers.