Interface and Conflict (The Evolution of Three Principles of the People After Sun Yat-sen's Death, 1925-1945)

Author: Zhang Junmin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-02-01
Features: The Three Principles of the People were the ideological instruments that upheld the National Revolution. After the death of Sun Yat-sen, different individuals, groups, and classes interpreted them with varying attitudes and perspectives. The author provides an in-depth interpretation of this thought-provoking historical phenomenon. The "Modern and Contemporary China: Politics and Society Transformation" academic series is the final outcome of a research project at Sun Yat-sen University under the "985" initiative, focusing on the relationship between political and social transformations in modern China.
Politics is a broad and complex concept. This project adopts a broad definition of politics, expanding the research scope to include modern Chinese political thought, political institutions, international environments, foreign relations, as well as key political figures and significant political events. By integrating politics and society, it examines the relationship between politics and the economy, the impact of politics on education and talent cultivation, the role of politics in social stability and progress, and its influence on foreign relations. It also analyzes the social effects of the political attitudes and governance theories, policies, and methods of important figures. The study employs a multi-faceted and multi-dimensional perspective, attempting to explore the interactive relationship between politics and society using sociological theories and methods. It evaluates political thought, doctrines, and the governance of political figures based on the stability, progress, development, and degree of civilization in society. This is a new attempt.
Modern Chinese politics emerged within the framework of a semi-colonial and semi-feudal political structure. On one side were capitalism, imperialism, and feudalism, which held political control over China; on the other side were the broad patriotic and revolutionary masses and intellectuals who pursued progress and kept pace with the times. These two sides represented the two social forces in China and reflected the two potential futures of modern China. Their political ideologies, thoughts, and proposals for reforming China constrained the developmental path of modern China. Modern Chinese politics is the central focus and foundational background for examining the social transformation of modern China.
In contemporary China, political power is held by the broad masses, with the state's power center centered around the Communist Party of China. The state concentrates its efforts on developing the economy, culture, and education, enabling rapid social progress. Previous research on modern Chinese history has achieved significant results and breakthroughs in various aspects, but there are also shortcomings. For instance, the key hub controlling the social transformation of modern China—political change—has been relatively neglected in terms of its social impact, necessitating more urgent and higher-quality research. There is also a trend toward shifting the research focus from various social aspects back to the center and an objective demand for moving from specific studies to a more holistic understanding.
Traditional political history research has focused on class struggle and revolutionary movements, unidirectionally explaining the turmoil and instability caused by political change in society, as well as its impact on the economy, culture, and education. To some extent, this has limited the expansion of the field of modern Chinese political history and the advancement of its theories. This project takes the interactive relationship between modern Chinese politics and social transformation as the basic starting point. Building on existing micro-level research, it establishes a macro-level interpretive system that is innovative and characteristic of the era. Guided by the expansion of observational perspectives and the deepening of research levels, it aims to enhance research standards through the combination of macro and micro approaches and the innovation of research methods, opening up new paths.
The history of modern Chinese politics is an important aspect of modern Chinese history research. Overall, past research has been characterized by both a large number of achievements and severe flaws, leaving considerable room for further development. Sun Yat-sen University has a strong tradition and advantage in researching modern Chinese political thought, political institutions, political figures, and international relations. It leads the field in studies on Sun Yat-sen and modern Chinese politics both domestically and internationally. The university adheres to academic norms, has long fostered a spirit of seeking truth and a collaborative academic atmosphere, and has great potential in multiple areas.
The research on the "Modern and Contemporary China: Politics and Society Transformation" project includes senior professors and doctoral supervisors, postdoctoral researchers, and the rest are doctoral graduates, forming a research team that combines experience, middle-aged, and young scholars. Each researcher explores new frontiers based on their interests and findings. Many of the works presented are their doctoral theses, which 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, each with unique strengths and contributions, demonstrating foresight and academic rigor.
The "Modern and Contemporary China: Politics and Society Transformation" academic series presented to the readers is the fruit of their hard work. It is hoped that these achievements will help people understand the relationship between politics and social transformation from new angles. Of course, we also look forward to criticism and guidance from readers and the academic community.