Party Politics in Republican China

Party Politics in Republican China: The Kuomintang, 1912–1924 is a pivotal exploration of China's early struggle with political modernization during a transformative era. Written by George T. Yu, the book delves into the Kuomintang's journey from its roots in traditional Chinese secret societies to its adoption and adaptation of Western political ideals. By examining this critical period, the study offers insight into how the Kuomintang sought to reconcile the tensions between China's deeply entrenched traditional structures and the demands of modern nation-building.

The monograph vividly portrays the Kuomintang's initial optimism, marked by a commitment to Western-style republicanism, and its eventual disillusionment with parliamentary democracy due to internal factionalism, corruption, and external military pressures. It traces the party's shift towards a more authoritarian, mass-mobilization model of governance, influenced by both the failures of early Chinese democracy and its interactions with Soviet organizational strategies. This work not only illuminates the political evolution of the Kuomintang but also contextualizes broader patterns of political development in emerging nations grappling with the integration of foreign ideologies and indigenous traditions. Yu's analysis is essential for understanding the challenges of political modernization and its lasting impact on China's 20th-century history.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1966.