Unit Outline
As a political vehicle for Sun Yat-sen's version of nationalist politics, the Guomindang was a hugely successful, if volatile, coalition of conservative, liberal, and radical forces, all dedicated to national reunification. Yet with the death of Sun in 1925, the Party became dominated by the authoritarian rule of Chiang Kai-shek, who outmanoeuvred both the left and right wings of the Guomindang. In many ways, the story of the Guomindang in the 1920s and 1930s is thus a story of Chiang's rise to power from his early courting and betrayal of allies whilst military commander, to his rule as Generalissimo of China.
Yet with initial successes came ultimate failures. Chiang's rule as President of China between 1927-1937, often labelled the 'Nanjing Decade', could be considered a dismal failure. Reunifying China for the first time in 16 years, he had the opportunity to rebuild the nation and strengthen it in the face of foreign imperialism. The fact that he singularly failed to protect China from Japanese invasion if often held up as proof of this. Yet is that a fair assessment of Chiang's rule? Can he be blamed for all the problems that China faced at this time? Was it his poor governance, or were his challenges insurmountable?
Yet with initial successes came ultimate failures. Chiang's rule as President of China between 1927-1937, often labelled the 'Nanjing Decade', could be considered a dismal failure. Reunifying China for the first time in 16 years, he had the opportunity to rebuild the nation and strengthen it in the face of foreign imperialism. The fact that he singularly failed to protect China from Japanese invasion if often held up as proof of this. Yet is that a fair assessment of Chiang's rule? Can he be blamed for all the problems that China faced at this time? Was it his poor governance, or were his challenges insurmountable?
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STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Despite the promises of ideology, national development can be impacted by changes externally, as well as poor governance internally
GLOBAL CONTEXT
Globalisation and Sustainability (Markets, commodities and commercialization) - Students will explore the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the relationship between local and global processes; how local experiences mediate the global; the opportunities and tensions provided by world interconnectedness; the impact of decision-making on humankind and the environment.
KEY HISTORY CONCEPT
Change - The study of history involves investigation of the extent to which people and events bring about change. Discussion of the concept of change can encourage sophisticated discussions such as encouraging students to think about, and look for, change where some claim none exists, or using evidence to challenge orthodox theories and assumptions about people and events that it is claimed led to significant change. Students’ questions and judgments about historical change should be based on deep understanding of content and on comparison of the situation before and after the events under examination.
RELATED HISTORY CONCEPT(S)
Governance - Governance refers to mechanisms and processes that regulate authority in a given organization. It can apply to state and non-state institutions. Throughout time, people have organized governments in order to meet the needs of communities and individuals. Groups have created institutions and processes that have many forms and functions. Monarchies, republics, tribes, parliaments, presidents, dictators: these and other patterns of rule express a range of human values and reflect varied understandings of history and culture. At the heart of governance are questions about the distribution of resources, the making of laws, and the balance of power between individuals and the communities in which they live. Democratic governments are accountable to the people who choose them.
Ideology - An ideology is a system of ideas and ideals, which can form the basis of political or economic theories, policies and actions. Ideologies usually encompass systematic arrangements of premises and assertions that are used to interpret the world and make normative assertions about how it should be organized. Ideologies can evolve and change over time in order to meet the needs of a group of people or a society. Ideologies can be derived from the place and space in which a group of people or a society is located. Ideologies can evolve into political, economic or social systems and these systems can impact humans in a variety of ways. For example, through the definition of certain rights and responsibilities. |
1. How did Chiang emerge as leader of the GMD?
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Chiang Kai-shek is often known as the man who lost China. Whilst this can't be denied, an emphasis on his failures does mask some of the good aspects of his character and rule that were more apparent during his early life and rise to leadership of the GMD from 1887-1927.
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2. Why was the Northern Expedition successful?
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The Northern Expedition forms a core part of the mythology of both the CCP and GMD. It was during this march that both parties worked to remove the warlords and unite the country. However both parties still argue over who contributed more to the success of the alliance.
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3. Was the Nanjing Decade a success?
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The rapid collapse of the GMD government in the face of Japanese invasion in 1937 is often blamed on the failure of Chiang Kai-shek to modernise China in the preceding 'Nanjing Decade' from 1927. But is that fair? Did the enormity of the collapse mask real successes?
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4. Assessment: Was GMD rule a success or failure?
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Debating the relative merits of Chiang Kai-shek's first decade in power may seem trivial when compared to the cataclysmic events of the following years. Yet our judgements on him reveal much about the limited role that individuals have in changing the course of history.
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