"The Responsibility of a Few" -- The Thought and Practice of Ding Wenjiang (Political and Social Changes in Modern China)

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 putting it into practice. His insightful and wise observations cut to the core of the era's problems, yet they went largely unheeded by his contemporaries, leaving modern scholars to lament his legacy. The "Modern and Contemporary China: Politics and Society Transformation" academic series is the culmination of a research project at Sun Yat-sen University under the "985" initiative, 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, and foreign relations. Key political figures and major political events are examined to integrate politics with society, exploring 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. This approach aims to provide multi-faceted and multi-dimensional perspectives, using sociological theories and methods to explore the interactive dynamics between politics and society. It seeks to evaluate political ideas, doctrines, and the effectiveness of political figures' governance based on the stability, progress, development, and level of civilization in society. This represents a new attempt.
Modern Chinese politics emerged within the political framework of a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. On one side were the capitalist imperialism and feudalism, along with bureaucratic capitalism, which held political control over China. On the other side were the vast patriotic and revolutionary masses, as well as 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 trajectory 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 of the people, with the state's power center centered around the central government led by the Communist Party of China. The nation concentrates its efforts on developing the economy, culture, and education, driving rapid societal progress. Previous research on modern Chinese history has achieved significant accomplishments and breakthroughs in various aspects, but there are also shortcomings. For instance, the key pivot—political transformation—that shaped modern Chinese social transformation has been studied insufficiently, leaving a pressing need for more research and higher standards. There is also a trend toward shifting research focus from peripheral aspects toward the center and from specific studies toward a more holistic understanding.
Traditional political history research has primarily focused on class struggle and revolutionary movements, explaining political transformation's disruptive and unsettling effects on society in a one-sided manner, while limiting the expansion of research fields and theoretical development in modern Chinese political history. This project takes the interactive dynamics between modern Chinese politics and social transformation as its starting point. Building on existing micro-level studies, it establishes an innovative and era-specific macro-level interpretive system, guided by the expansion of research horizons and deeper exploration of levels. Through the combination of macro and micro approaches and the innovation of research methods, the project aims to enhance research standards and open new pathways.
The history of modern Chinese politics is a crucial aspect of modern Chinese history research. Overall, past studies have been characterized by both a large volume of output and severe shortcomings, leaving ample 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, adhering to academic norms and fostering a spirit of pragmatism and truth-seeking, as well as a collaborative academic atmosphere. The university has significant potential in multiple areas.
The research team for the "Modern and Contemporary China: Politics and Society Transformation" project includes senior professors and doctoral supervisors, postdoctoral researchers, and other PhD holders, forming a balanced team of experienced, mid-career, and young scholars. Each member explores new frontiers based on their interests and research findings. Many of the works presented in this series are their PhD theses, which received excellent evaluations from their dissertation committees after extensive revisions. They have conducted specialized research on the relationship between modern Chinese politics and society from diverse perspectives, each offering unique strengths and contributions with forward-looking and academic value.
The "Modern and Contemporary China: Politics and Society Transformation" academic series, presented to readers, is the fruit of their hard work. It is hoped that these contributions will help people understand the relationship between politics and social transformation from new angles. Of course, we also welcome criticism and feedback from readers and the academic community.