Detestation of Communism: After receiving revolutionary training in the USSR in the early 1920s, Jiang developed a strong detestation of communism, believing that China could not progress towards true modernity unless it first destroyed Mao's Communists. This became a recurring theme throughout his political career.
Militaristic Approach: Jiang's life was dominated by military considerations, and he approached politics in militaristic terms. He did not believe in discussion and concession but in destroying opposition, similar to his adversary Mao, who thought in terms of dialectical struggle.
Jiang Jieshi's Ideology:
Three People's Principles: Jiang planned to build Nationalist China on the basis of the Three People's Principles (nationalism, democracy, and people's livelihood) first enunciated by Sun Yatsen.
Stages of Development: Jiang believed that due to China's instability, democracy could not be introduced immediately. Instead, he followed Sun Yatsen's definition that China needed to go through three stages of development:
Preliminary Stage: Overthrow of China's internal and external enemies by the Nationalist armies.
Intermediate 'Tutelage' Stage: GMD dominance during which the people would be educated in political knowledge and values.
Final Stage: Enlightened people playing their part in turning China into a full democracy.
Justification for Authoritarian Control: Jiang claimed that the preliminary stage had been achieved by the defeat of the warlords, and China was now at the tutelage stage. This claim provided a justification for authoritarian control by Jiang and the GMD until China was considered ready for democracy.
Jiang's Leadership:
Leninist Party Structure: The GMD had been structured along Leninist lines due to the influence of the Comintern in its early days. The Comintern believed that the GMD met the criteria of a bourgeois revolutionary party and urged the CCP to join forces with the Nationalists. The key element of the GMD constitution was 'democratic centralism', which Jiang found convenient for demanding conformity from the party.
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Detestation of Communism: After receiving revolutionary training in the USSR in the early 1920s, Jiang developed a strong detestation of communism, believing that China could not progress towards true modernity unless it first destroyed Mao's Communists. This became a recurring theme throughout his political career.
Militaristic Approach: Jiang's life was dominated by military considerations, and he approached politics in militaristic terms. He did not believe in discussion and concession but in destroying opposition, similar to his adversary Mao, who thought in terms of dialectical struggle.
Jiang Jieshi's Ideology:
Three People's Principles: Jiang planned to build Nationalist China on the basis of the Three People's Principles (nationalism, democracy, and people's livelihood) first enunciated by Sun Yatsen.
Stages of Development: Jiang believed that due to China's instability, democracy could not be introduced immediately. Instead, he followed Sun Yatsen's definition that China needed to go through three stages of development:
Preliminary Stage: Overthrow of China's internal and external enemies by the Nationalist armies.
Intermediate 'Tutelage' Stage: GMD dominance during which the people would be educated in political knowledge and values.
Final Stage: Enlightened people playing their part in turning China into a full democracy.
Justification for Authoritarian Control: Jiang claimed that the preliminary stage had been achieved by the defeat of the warlords, and China was now at the tutelage stage. This claim provided a justification for authoritarian control by Jiang and the GMD until China was considered ready for democracy.
Jiang's Leadership:
Leninist Party Structure: The GMD had been structured along Leninist lines due to the influence of the Comintern in its early days. The Comintern believed that the GMD met the criteria of a bourgeois revolutionary party and urged the CCP to join forces with the Nationalists. The key element of the GMD constitution was 'democratic centralism', which Jiang found convenient for demanding conformity from the party.
Unlock the Full Content!
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of History HL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟