The Making and Unmaking of the Chinese Radical Right, 1918-1951

Nagatomi Hirayama's book explores the Chinese Youth Party's role in China's transformative years 1918-51, tracing its birth during the May Fourth movement, revolutionary path, and de-radicalization in the 1940s. It was a significant competitor to the Chinese Communist Party and Guomindang, particularly during World War II and China's Civil War.

Format: Hardback
Length: 275 pages
Publication date: 23 June 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Nagatomi Hirayama delves into the significant role of the Chinese Youth Party in China during the transformative years 1918-51, utilizing archives from mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, and the USA. Tracing the party's origins from its birth in 1923 during the May Fourth movement, its revolutionary trajectory to the late 1930s, and its de-radicalization in the 1940s, Hirayama explores the emergence of the Chinese Youth Party as a robust revolutionary movement on the right, characterized by cultural conservatism, political intellectualism, and national socialism. Despite its relatively unknown history, Hirayama argues that the Chinese Youth Party posed a significant competitor to the Chinese Communist Party and Guomindang and played a pivotal role during World War II and China's Civil War. By examining the ideas and practices of the Chinese Youth Party, Hirayama offers a valuable lens through which to understand the Chinese radical right in the first half of the twentieth century.

Introduction:
The Chinese Youth Party (CYP) played a significant role in China's political landscape during the transformative years 1918-51. Despite its relatively unknown history, the party emerged as a powerful force on the right, challenging the established political order and shaping China's future. Nagatomi Hirayama's study, utilizing archives from mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, and the USA, provides a comprehensive examination of the Chinese Youth Party's origins, development, and impact.

Birth and Development of the Chinese Youth Party:
The Chinese Youth Party was born in 1923 during the May Fourth movement, a period of intense cultural and political activism in China. The party was founded by young intellectuals and activists who were dissatisfied with the ruling Qing dynasty and sought to establish a new political order based on democratic principles and social justice. The party's early leaders included figures such as Cai E, Wang Jingwei, and Li Hanjun, who were influenced by Western democratic ideals and Marxist ideology.

Revolutionary Path to the Late 1930s:
Under the leadership of Cai E, the Chinese Youth Party embarked on a revolutionary path, seeking to overthrow the Qing dynasty and establish a democratic republic. The party's ideology was characterized by cultural conservatism, political intellectualism, and national socialism. The party advocated for the protection of Chinese culture and heritage, the promotion of political education and literacy, and the establishment of a socialist society.

De-Radicalization in the 1940s:
However, the Chinese Youth Party's revolutionary ambitions were met with resistance from both the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Guomindang (KMT). The party was accused of being too radical and too close to Western imperialism, and its members were frequently persecuted and arrested. In response, the party underwent a process of de-radicalization in the 1940s, under the leadership of Wang Jingwei. The party shifted its focus from revolution to reform, advocating for constitutional democracy and social welfare programs.

Competition with the Chinese Communist Party and Guomindang:
Despite its de-radicalization, the Chinese Youth Party remained a significant competitor to the CCP and the KMT. The party's cultural conservatism and political intellectualism appealed to a wide range of Chinese citizens, including intellectuals, students, and workers. The party also had a strong base of support among the Chinese diaspora, particularly in the United States and Japan.

Significance during World War II and China's Civil War:
The Chinese Youth Party's significance was particularly evident during World War II and China's Civil War. The party played a crucial role in supporting the Nationalist government in China, particularly during the Sino-Japanese War. The party's members were actively involved in the resistance against Japanese occupation, and the party's ideology and policies were widely influential among Chinese soldiers and civilians.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Nagatomi Hirayama's study of the Chinese Youth Party provides a valuable insight into the complex and multifaceted history of the Chinese radical right in the first half of the twentieth century. The party's birth during the May Fourth movement, its revolutionary path to the late 1930s, and its de-radicalization in the 1940s reflect the changing political landscape of China and the challenges faced by young intellectuals and activists seeking to establish a new political order. The Chinese Youth Party's competition with the CCP and the KMT, as well as its role during World War II and China's Civil War, highlight the party's significant impact on China's political history.

ISBN-13: 9781009098717