Cold War and Civil War: The Origins of US-Soviet Rivalry and the Nationalist-Communist Conflict (1944-1946)

Author: Zhang Zhenjiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The academic series "Political and Social Changes in Modern China" is the final outcome of the "985" research project at Sun Yat-sen University of Guangzhou, focusing on the relationship between political and social changes in modern China. Politics is a broad and complex concept. This project adopts a broad definition of politics, expanding the research scope to political thought, political systems, international environment, foreign relations, and significant political figures and events in modern China. It combines politics and society to examine the relationship between politics and the economy, the impact of politics on education and talent cultivation, the role of politics in social stability and civilization, and the social effects of political attitudes and governance theories, policies, and methods of important figures. It aims to explore the interactive relationship between politics and society from multiple perspectives and levels using the theories and methods of political sociology, and to measure and evaluate the correctness of political ideas, propositions, and the governance of political figures based on the stability, progress, development, and level of civilization of society. This is a new attempt. The politics of modern China was formed under the political framework of a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. On one side were capitalistic imperialism and feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, which held the ruling power of China; on the other side were the vast patriotic and revolutionary masses and various intellectuals pursuing progress and keeping pace with the trend of the times. These two sides represented the two social forces of China and reflected the two prospects of modern China. Their political ideas, thoughts, and proposals for reforming China constrained the developmental path of modern China. The politics of modern China is the central content and basic background for examining the social transformation of modern China. In modern China, political power is held by the broad masses of the people, with the state's power center being the central government led by the Communist Party of China. The state focuses its efforts on developing the economy, culture, and education, rapidly advancing Chinese society. Previous research on modern Chinese history has achieved fruitful results and significant breakthroughs in various aspects, but there are also shortcomings. For example, the key hub controlling the social transformation of modern China—political change—has relatively weak research on its social impact, and there is an urgent need for more research and higher standards. There is also a trend of shifting research focus from various aspects of society back to the center and an objective requirement for improving research from specific studies to a holistic grasp. Previous political history research focused on class struggle and revolutionary movements, unidirectionally explaining the turmoil and instability caused by political change for society, and the impact on the economy, culture, and education, which, to some extent, limited the expansion of the research field and the advancement of theory in modern Chinese political history. This project takes the interactive relationship between political and social changes in modern China as the basic starting point. Building on existing micro-level research, it establishes an innovative and era-specific macro-level interpretive system, with the expansion of observational scope and the deepening of research levels as the guiding principle. Through the combination of macro and micro research and the innovation of research methods, it aims to enhance research standards and open up new paths. The history of modern Chinese politics is an important aspect of the study of modern Chinese history. Overall, past research has been characterized by both a large number of achievements and severe shortcomings, leaving considerable room for further development. Sun Yat-sen University has a strong tradition and advantage in the study of modern Chinese political thought, political systems, political figures, and international relations. It leads the academic community both domestically and internationally in research on Sun Yat-sen and modern Chinese politics. It adheres to academic norms and has long fostered a spirit of seeking truth and practicality, as well as a collaborative academic atmosphere, demonstrating great potential in multiple areas. The research on the "Political and Social Changes in Modern China" project involves senior professors and doctoral supervisors, postdoctoral researchers, and the rest are PhD holders, forming a research team that combines experience, middle-aged, and young scholars. Each researcher explores new areas based on their interests and findings. Many of their works are PhD theses that received excellent evaluations from their dissertation committees after repeated revisions before being published. They have conducted specialized research on the relationship between modern Chinese politics and society from different perspectives and angles, each with its own unique strengths and contributions, demonstrating foresight and academic rigor. The academic series "Political and Social Changes in Modern China" now presented to the readers is the result of their hard work. We hope these achievements will help and inspire people to understand the relationship between politics and social change from new angles. Of course, we also expect criticism and corrections from readers and the academic community.