The Responsibility of a Few (Ding Wenjiang's Thoughts and Practices)

Author: Gu Xiaoshui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: In the turbulent times of the Republic of China, Ding Wenjiang, the pioneer of Chinese geological studies, navigated between academia and politics, proposing a politically elite-oriented vision and personally implementing it. His insightful and wise observations cut to the core of the era's problems, yet they were not echoed by his contemporaries, leaving modern scholars to lament his legacy. The "Modern and Contemporary China: Politics and Society Transformation" academic series is the final outcome of a "985" research project at Sun Yat-sen University in 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 its research scope to include modern Chinese political thought, political institutions, international environments, foreign relations, as well as key political figures and major 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 the influence of politics on foreign relations. It also analyzes the political attitudes and governance theories, policies, and methods of important figures and their social impacts from multiple perspectives and levels. The goal is to explore the interactive relationship between politics and society using political sociology theories and methods, measuring and evaluating the correctness of political ideas, proposals, and the governance of political figures based on the stability, progress, development, and degree of civilization of society. This is a new attempt.
Modern Chinese politics emerged within the political framework of a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. On one side were capitalism, imperialism, and bureaucratic capitalism, which held China's ruling power; on the other were the vast patriotic and revolutionary masses and various intellectuals who pursued progress and kept pace with the times. These two sides represented the two social forces of modern China, reflecting the two potential futures of the nation. Their political ideologies, thoughts, and proposals for reforming China constrained the development path of modern China. Modern Chinese politics is the central content 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 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 and contemporary 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 studied insufficiently in terms of 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 social aspects back to the center and an objective requirement to move from specific studies to a more holistic grasp.
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 and contemporary Chinese political history and its theoretical development. This project takes the interactive relationship between modern Chinese politics and social change as its starting point. Building on existing micro-level research, it establishes an innovative and era-specific macro-level interpretive system, guided by the expansion of observational scope and the deepening of research levels. Through the combination of macro and micro research and the innovation of methods, it aims to enhance research standards and open new paths.
The history of modern and contemporary Chinese politics is an important aspect of modern and contemporary Chinese history research. Overall, past research has been characterized by both a large number of achievements and severe flaws, leaving significant 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 practicality, and has developed a collaborative academic atmosphere. It 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 with a mix of experience levels. Each member explores new frontiers based on their interests and research findings. Many of their works are doctoral theses that received excellent evaluations from their defense committees and were published only after extensive revisions. They have conducted specialized research on the relationship between modern Chinese politics and society from different perspectives, each with its own unique strengths and contributions, demonstrating foresight and academic rigor.
The "Modern and Contemporary China: Politics and Society Transformation" academic series presented to readers is the result of their hard work. It is hoped that these achievements will help people understand the relationship between politics and social change from new angles. Of course, we also expect criticism and feedback from readers and the academic community.