The Republic of China: 1912 to 1949

The declaration of the Republic of China in 1912 marked a new era, bringing an end to dynasties that had marked Chinese history for over two millennia. Radical reforms since 1901 had culminated in the ending of the political status quo and the rejection of the idea of empire. Xavier Paulès provides a comprehensive account of the crucial but chaotic period from 1912 to 1945, challenging common claims about the CCP's role. His analysis considers the importance of political actors within and external to the revolutionary movement, offering a balanced interpretation of China's political, cultural, and economic development.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 24 November 2023
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

The declaration of the Republic of China in 1912 marked a transformative epoch in Chinese history, heralding the end of the Qing dynasty and a series of dynasties that had ruled China for over two millennia. Radical reforms since 1901 had culminated in the overthrow of the political status quo and the rejection of the concept of empire. In his comprehensive account, Xavier Paulès challenges prevailing narratives about this crucial yet chaotic period, which spanned from the founding of the Republic of China in 1912 to the civil war of 1945–9. Paulès argues that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) did not play a central role in shaping key events, instead capitalizing on favorable circumstances. Even then, the CCP's challenge to the dominance of the Guomindang only emerged in 1944. His analysis takes a broad perspective, considering the roles of political actors both within and outside the revolutionary movement, providing a balanced interpretation of the republican era that sheds new light on China's political, cultural, and economic development.

Weight: 682g
Dimension: 164 x 238 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509552573