Chiang Kai-Shek goes to Germany: An Axis China Timeline
- Thread starter CCA
- Start date
he hasn't updated for a while.....
oh no.... it's the WoLWoT gap all over again!
oh no.... it's the WoLWoT gap all over again!
WoLWoT=A World of Laughter, A World of Tears. It's another extremely compelling piece of AH and storytelling that became delayed when its author disappeared for a few months (July 2009-January 2010, to be specific). Hence, the gap.
The 1935 Election
The 1935 Election
POLS 112 : Introduction to Chinese Politics
The 1935 Election: Intraparty Competition and Democracy -
A research essay by Josh Cheuk
The 1935 Election was a crucial event in the development of China - although it was effectively a one-party heavily authoritarian state - the existence of factions within the dominant party grouping meant that the elections resembled one of a democratic nation. That is to say that there were competing interest groups composed of mostly 'elite' struggling for factional control and dominance over the levers of government. The 1935 Election would be doubly important as the struggle extended not only to the highest lever of power (President) but to that of theLegislative Yuan. The 1935 Election would see intense levels of factiona struggle and intraparty competition and the elections would be relatively remarkably free of corruption and fraud as the factions held a rough balance of power. This essay will chronicle the 1935 election in broad terms with the aim of demonstrating the thesis that intense intraparty competition can produce outcomes similar to that of a more 'democratic state'
The competing "factions" in the Kuomintang took their name from the Kuomintang flag.
Before we can get into detail we must first introduce the key stakeholders and players involved in the 1935 Election in broad terms and provide some background. These can be broadly divided into three factions: the "whites, reds and blues." These factions represented the broad ideological tendencies and groupings within the governing Kuomintang Party and derived it's name from the Kuomintang flag. The white "sun" represented the "Control Group" - technocrats and army officers. The blue represented the "Freedom Group" - some elements of the middle class and 'progressive' businesses and the red represented the "Equality Group" - they were led by mostly left-wing academics and trade unionists and claimed to speak for the improverished workers and peasants.
Chiang Kai-shek campaigned on the basis of his military experience and on his 'statesman' image. He won a stunning 76% of the popular vote - a percentage unmatched by any other presidential candidate
The "whites" or the "Control Group" was led by President Chiang Kai-Shek. It was a loose coalition of high-ranking Army officers, Civil service technocrats and personal friends of the Chiang extended family. For the 1935 Election the Control Group was well-placed in that their control of the Army gave them muscle and election footsoldiers (in the literal and metaphorical sense) and Chiang Kai-Shek was very popular across wide swathes of the Chinese population. However, this popularity did not always translate into popularity for the "whites" or "white" candidates in the 1935 General Election. This is illustrated vividly in the election results: whereas Chiang Kai-shek garnered a phenomenal 76% of the vote, (in a fair election) 'white' candidates who stood for the legislative Yuan gained only 196 out of the 1200 seats - less than 20% and substantially less than the red and blue candidates. Critics have tended to dismiss the "control group" faction as as "Sergallio of emasculated sycophants desperate to maintain power at all costs." Ideologically - they were moderates or even opportunists - siding with the 'reds' or 'blues' and doing whatever they could to maintain power. This versatility, combined with Chiang's patronage and their control of the Army made them a formindable force in Chinese politics despite their lack of a popular base.
T.V Soong was the leader of the "Freedom Group" and endorsed Chiang.
The 'blues' or "Freedom Group" were by and large middle and upper-class liberals determined to increase freedom in the new China. They chaffed at the econonmic and political 'safeguards' and wanted to let loose the 'untamed forces of the people.' In reality they were virulent anti-communists who wanted to 'purge' the Kuomintang of the 'left' and 'communism.' They stood in diametric opposition to the 'reds.' They supported Chiang Kai-shek's candidacy in the 1935 General Election - their unofficial faction leader T.V Soong was related to Chiang by marriage. Their para-military group the "blue-shirts" which would later develop into a potent force in Chinese politics was born out of the 1935 Election to 'protect' the faction. They were more successful than the 'whites' gaining 404 of the 1200 contestable Yuan seats. Their primary base was the 'progressive gentry' and other members of the middle and upper-classes.
Kuomintang Party President Wang JingWei barnstormed effectively for "Red" Yuan candidates. Less successful was the "red" candidate Soong Qingling who only gained 24% of the popular vote.
The 'reds' or the "Equality Group" had the most popular support. Their faction leader Wang JingWei was Party President and controlled the Kuomintang party machinery - using it to promote "left" candidates. The Blue's fears of a communist takeover did not seem unfounded as Wang ruthlessly used the party machine to support 'his' candidates over that of the blues and the whites. The Reds gained 560 of the 1200 seats in the Yuan - leaving them by far the largest party in the Yuan (although short of a majority - especially if you included 800 non-elected representatives. Less successful was Soong Qingling who gained only 24% of the vote - however - this was a notable achievement in a society such as China where women where only recently given the vote. It is important to note that it would be unfair to attribute the "reds'" success entirely to Wang's control of the party machinery. Their platform - a mix of populist solutions to the problems of the rural and urban proleriat was very popular.
In fact, many historians argue that had it not been for the "October Surprise," Qingling and the Reds might have done better. The humilaition of the Japanese Army when it attempted to 'punish' some Shanghai Chinese for the murder of 15 Buddhist Monks and was pushed out of their Shanghai concession undoubtedly boosted Chiang's and the Army's support. The Japanase were ultimately forced to ask for a cease-fire agreement. This foreign policy triumph with only a month to go before election boosted Chiang's and the White's chances and dented the Reds.
These three factions held a rough balance of force during the election - and afterwards. It was in all three's interest to ensure election. The whites did not want to upset the status quo because they were the whites, the blue's accepted the results as they had done better than expected and the reds knew that they would be smashed if they tried to fabricate the results. The coalition that was formed with Chiang Kai-shek as President, Wang Jingwei as Prime Minister and T.V Soong as Premier was an affirmation of the "Granita" status quo. Intraparty competition had produced a coalition government and a relatively stable equilibrium where all factions felt like they were the 'winners.'
Essay comments:
C-.
This is quite a disappointing essay from a student of such high potential- although you made sound arguments you provided too little evidence and did not source any of your assertions. The pictures you provided for the essay - while nice don't add anything to your argument. You also have a tangent about the "October Surprise" which has nothing to do with your argument. Please make a time to see me or your tutors so we can help you with your future essays. - Prof Patman.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi all,
Sorry for the long delay! I've been frantic with exams and university and girlfriend. Those of you who are following my non-pol threads will also know that I've been having difficult times with her
. But it'll be ok - but it has distracted me from doing updates!
More updates to follow this week.
POLS 112 : Introduction to Chinese Politics
The 1935 Election: Intraparty Competition and Democracy -
A research essay by Josh Cheuk
The 1935 Election was a crucial event in the development of China - although it was effectively a one-party heavily authoritarian state - the existence of factions within the dominant party grouping meant that the elections resembled one of a democratic nation. That is to say that there were competing interest groups composed of mostly 'elite' struggling for factional control and dominance over the levers of government. The 1935 Election would be doubly important as the struggle extended not only to the highest lever of power (President) but to that of theLegislative Yuan. The 1935 Election would see intense levels of factiona struggle and intraparty competition and the elections would be relatively remarkably free of corruption and fraud as the factions held a rough balance of power. This essay will chronicle the 1935 election in broad terms with the aim of demonstrating the thesis that intense intraparty competition can produce outcomes similar to that of a more 'democratic state'
The competing "factions" in the Kuomintang took their name from the Kuomintang flag.
Before we can get into detail we must first introduce the key stakeholders and players involved in the 1935 Election in broad terms and provide some background. These can be broadly divided into three factions: the "whites, reds and blues." These factions represented the broad ideological tendencies and groupings within the governing Kuomintang Party and derived it's name from the Kuomintang flag. The white "sun" represented the "Control Group" - technocrats and army officers. The blue represented the "Freedom Group" - some elements of the middle class and 'progressive' businesses and the red represented the "Equality Group" - they were led by mostly left-wing academics and trade unionists and claimed to speak for the improverished workers and peasants.
Chiang Kai-shek campaigned on the basis of his military experience and on his 'statesman' image. He won a stunning 76% of the popular vote - a percentage unmatched by any other presidential candidate
The "whites" or the "Control Group" was led by President Chiang Kai-Shek. It was a loose coalition of high-ranking Army officers, Civil service technocrats and personal friends of the Chiang extended family. For the 1935 Election the Control Group was well-placed in that their control of the Army gave them muscle and election footsoldiers (in the literal and metaphorical sense) and Chiang Kai-Shek was very popular across wide swathes of the Chinese population. However, this popularity did not always translate into popularity for the "whites" or "white" candidates in the 1935 General Election. This is illustrated vividly in the election results: whereas Chiang Kai-shek garnered a phenomenal 76% of the vote, (in a fair election) 'white' candidates who stood for the legislative Yuan gained only 196 out of the 1200 seats - less than 20% and substantially less than the red and blue candidates. Critics have tended to dismiss the "control group" faction as as "Sergallio of emasculated sycophants desperate to maintain power at all costs." Ideologically - they were moderates or even opportunists - siding with the 'reds' or 'blues' and doing whatever they could to maintain power. This versatility, combined with Chiang's patronage and their control of the Army made them a formindable force in Chinese politics despite their lack of a popular base.
T.V Soong was the leader of the "Freedom Group" and endorsed Chiang.
The 'blues' or "Freedom Group" were by and large middle and upper-class liberals determined to increase freedom in the new China. They chaffed at the econonmic and political 'safeguards' and wanted to let loose the 'untamed forces of the people.' In reality they were virulent anti-communists who wanted to 'purge' the Kuomintang of the 'left' and 'communism.' They stood in diametric opposition to the 'reds.' They supported Chiang Kai-shek's candidacy in the 1935 General Election - their unofficial faction leader T.V Soong was related to Chiang by marriage. Their para-military group the "blue-shirts" which would later develop into a potent force in Chinese politics was born out of the 1935 Election to 'protect' the faction. They were more successful than the 'whites' gaining 404 of the 1200 contestable Yuan seats. Their primary base was the 'progressive gentry' and other members of the middle and upper-classes.
Kuomintang Party President Wang JingWei barnstormed effectively for "Red" Yuan candidates. Less successful was the "red" candidate Soong Qingling who only gained 24% of the popular vote.
The 'reds' or the "Equality Group" had the most popular support. Their faction leader Wang JingWei was Party President and controlled the Kuomintang party machinery - using it to promote "left" candidates. The Blue's fears of a communist takeover did not seem unfounded as Wang ruthlessly used the party machine to support 'his' candidates over that of the blues and the whites. The Reds gained 560 of the 1200 seats in the Yuan - leaving them by far the largest party in the Yuan (although short of a majority - especially if you included 800 non-elected representatives. Less successful was Soong Qingling who gained only 24% of the vote - however - this was a notable achievement in a society such as China where women where only recently given the vote. It is important to note that it would be unfair to attribute the "reds'" success entirely to Wang's control of the party machinery. Their platform - a mix of populist solutions to the problems of the rural and urban proleriat was very popular.
In fact, many historians argue that had it not been for the "October Surprise," Qingling and the Reds might have done better. The humilaition of the Japanese Army when it attempted to 'punish' some Shanghai Chinese for the murder of 15 Buddhist Monks and was pushed out of their Shanghai concession undoubtedly boosted Chiang's and the Army's support. The Japanase were ultimately forced to ask for a cease-fire agreement. This foreign policy triumph with only a month to go before election boosted Chiang's and the White's chances and dented the Reds.
These three factions held a rough balance of force during the election - and afterwards. It was in all three's interest to ensure election. The whites did not want to upset the status quo because they were the whites, the blue's accepted the results as they had done better than expected and the reds knew that they would be smashed if they tried to fabricate the results. The coalition that was formed with Chiang Kai-shek as President, Wang Jingwei as Prime Minister and T.V Soong as Premier was an affirmation of the "Granita" status quo. Intraparty competition had produced a coalition government and a relatively stable equilibrium where all factions felt like they were the 'winners.'
Essay comments:
C-.
This is quite a disappointing essay from a student of such high potential- although you made sound arguments you provided too little evidence and did not source any of your assertions. The pictures you provided for the essay - while nice don't add anything to your argument. You also have a tangent about the "October Surprise" which has nothing to do with your argument. Please make a time to see me or your tutors so we can help you with your future essays. - Prof Patman.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi all,
Sorry for the long delay! I've been frantic with exams and university and girlfriend. Those of you who are following my non-pol threads will also know that I've been having difficult times with her
. But it'll be ok - but it has distracted me from doing updates!More updates to follow this week.
Just glad to have you and the TL back, CCA.
Great update, deserves better than a "C-".
Great update, deserves better than a "C-".
bump
Essay comments:
C-.
This is quite a disappointing essay from a student of such high potential- although you made sound arguments you provided too little evidence and did not source any of your assertions. The pictures you provided for the essay - while nice don't add anything to your argument. You also have a tangent about the "October Surprise" which has nothing to do with your argument. Please make a time to see me or your tutors so we can help you with your future essays. - Prof Patman.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi all,
Sorry for the long delay! I've been frantic with exams and university and girlfriend. Those of you who are following my non-pol threads will also know that I've been having difficult times with her
More updates to follow this week.
First of all: YEESSSSSS FINALLY THIS TIMELINE COME BACK FROM THE DEADS, YUPII(Blow south african horn,
)Well, good for you thant the university is over.. for now(for me too), and finnaly give us a great gift: an UPDATE. well, i finish of read the update( i think the grade and the advise of the teacher is a allegory with RL, isn't it
)well, in general, the essay was well written, but more informal than formal(the teacher kill you for that,
), in general we know than wil gonna take decades to China become some type of democracy, more witht he support of the finnest example of dictadorship... Nazi Germany, but well, the future is long and unpredictable, and that was written in extremly past tense and in a democratic country(an anglophone one, like USA or Australia,xd) well, but the most interesting was than the japanesse make their movement(IMHO they were extremly quiet, a lot for their OTL actions even if china is more united), and was a defeated, something good for Chiang and who gonna give us a few detail in the future(the next year is the rhineland remilirarization and the Spanish Civil War) , but well, surprise us with that.Was a good update, a very ilustrative one, teach us a litle of this *China and give us a few inside of the actions of the japanesse, waiting for more friend, this timeline is one of my favorites
Att
Nivek von Beldo
P.S Hitler will visit China in TTL or was cancelled(butterflied by minor details)
P.S.2. We gonna have an action update in the next one?
I assume you mean "ser(r)aglio". You really had me confused for a while. While I was sure that it wasn't 'mister chicken' from Bujold's fictional Chalion, I wasn't sure what it was....
So the three sisters are in major leadership positions in all THREE factions? The 'whites' being Chiang's extended family, when his in-laws are in different factions doesn't bode well for his 'extended family' support.
The "October Surprise": the Shanghai Incident
Thanks everyone for their kind comments and feedback
To answer some questions:
P.S Hitler will visit China in TTL or was cancelled(butterflied by minor details)
- He still might ....
P.S.2. We gonna have an action update in the next one?
Yes this one will be an action update
- sorry for lack of updates - I went hitchiking with my girlfriend and uni has started and things have been crazy busy
__________________________________________________________
The "October Surprise": the Shanghai Incident
Seemingly minor events in a day can ripple out of cosmic proportions and cause reprucussions which still revebrate in history today. Marie Antoniette's throwaway remark was an explosive match that lit the French Revolution - the embers burn bright even today. And who could forget the famous proverb :
"For want of a nail the shoe was lost
For want of a shoe the horse was lost
For want of a horse the rider was lost
For want of a rider the batte was lost
For want of a battle the kingom was lost
All for want of a nail"
Who could have predicted that a mug thrown in a moment of drunken folly could cause so much pain and misery across the world?
Perhaps no one. At the time the events that would spark the general conflagration of the Second Great War would be hard to trace from this event - it laid the foundation of jingoism and "victory disease" in the hearts of China however.
The facts of the incident need to be ascertained. Apparently in September 28 a drunken fool that history doesn't remember threw his mug at a group of elderly Japanese monks in the Japanese concession. The Japanese guards shot him dead. A mob gathered immediately and lynched the guards and the monks. The city erupted in a frenzy. The Japanese moved reinforcements to their concession. The crowd gathered in front chanting anti-japanese slogans and burning effigees. A bullet cracks through the air - perhaps as a warning or as a signal? Perhaps in ideal conditions that Japanese Garrison may have been able to hold their cool. But this was not ideal conditions.
By the end of the month the conflagration has spread. Chiang, in the middle of an election campaign demands the return of the Japanese concession and the end of "Japanese Provocation-Agrression." The Japanese respond by moving more reinforcements to the city. The Chinese counter-respond by ordering a partial mobilization and moving heavy assets to the city. There is no firing yet - but the damn will break very soon.
Members of the Nationall Revolutionary Army charging into Shanghai despite fierce Japanese resistance
On October 9 they rise up "Resistance Groups" in Japanese held Shanghai seize buildings such as Japanese factories and take shots at Japanese troops and appeal to the President for help. The order is given - the tanks, armoured cars, men roll in. The Shanghai Volunteer Corps and Shanghai Police join in. The belagured Japanese Garrisson surrounded on all sides and being attacked by ferocious resistance fighters are cut off and destroyed in short order.
Shanghai Burns
By October 13 Japanese Shanghai is Chinese. President Chiang declares: "Let the world know that our great nation is awakening!" The match that would spark the general conflagration has been thrown. The question remained: How long would it take to reach the powderkeg?
To answer some questions:
P.S Hitler will visit China in TTL or was cancelled(butterflied by minor details)
- He still might ....
P.S.2. We gonna have an action update in the next one?
Yes this one will be an action update
- sorry for lack of updates - I went hitchiking with my girlfriend and uni has started and things have been crazy busy
__________________________________________________________
The "October Surprise": the Shanghai Incident
Seemingly minor events in a day can ripple out of cosmic proportions and cause reprucussions which still revebrate in history today. Marie Antoniette's throwaway remark was an explosive match that lit the French Revolution - the embers burn bright even today. And who could forget the famous proverb :
"For want of a nail the shoe was lost
For want of a shoe the horse was lost
For want of a horse the rider was lost
For want of a rider the batte was lost
For want of a battle the kingom was lost
All for want of a nail"
Who could have predicted that a mug thrown in a moment of drunken folly could cause so much pain and misery across the world?
Perhaps no one. At the time the events that would spark the general conflagration of the Second Great War would be hard to trace from this event - it laid the foundation of jingoism and "victory disease" in the hearts of China however.
The facts of the incident need to be ascertained. Apparently in September 28 a drunken fool that history doesn't remember threw his mug at a group of elderly Japanese monks in the Japanese concession. The Japanese guards shot him dead. A mob gathered immediately and lynched the guards and the monks. The city erupted in a frenzy. The Japanese moved reinforcements to their concession. The crowd gathered in front chanting anti-japanese slogans and burning effigees. A bullet cracks through the air - perhaps as a warning or as a signal? Perhaps in ideal conditions that Japanese Garrison may have been able to hold their cool. But this was not ideal conditions.
By the end of the month the conflagration has spread. Chiang, in the middle of an election campaign demands the return of the Japanese concession and the end of "Japanese Provocation-Agrression." The Japanese respond by moving more reinforcements to the city. The Chinese counter-respond by ordering a partial mobilization and moving heavy assets to the city. There is no firing yet - but the damn will break very soon.
Members of the Nationall Revolutionary Army charging into Shanghai despite fierce Japanese resistance
On October 9 they rise up "Resistance Groups" in Japanese held Shanghai seize buildings such as Japanese factories and take shots at Japanese troops and appeal to the President for help. The order is given - the tanks, armoured cars, men roll in. The Shanghai Volunteer Corps and Shanghai Police join in. The belagured Japanese Garrisson surrounded on all sides and being attacked by ferocious resistance fighters are cut off and destroyed in short order.
Shanghai Burns
By October 13 Japanese Shanghai is Chinese. President Chiang declares: "Let the world know that our great nation is awakening!" The match that would spark the general conflagration has been thrown. The question remained: How long would it take to reach the powderkeg?
Like FDW said: FUCK YEAH, finnaly a new update(is understable your situation but please don't abadon us so long) and you accomplished your work: that was an action update, in fact,THE UPDATE WHO I WAS WAITING FOR(I know the japanesse, they are extremly greedy in that period to be so tame), but again i have some doubt about the name of the war because: IN 1935 GERMANY IS COMPLETLY UMPREPARATE TO THE WAR.
Maybe that was a typo of your, CCA, maybe the Correct sentence will be:
At the time the events that would spark the general conflagration of the Second Sino-Japanesse War would be hard to trace from this event - it laid the foundation of jingoism and "victory disease" in the hearts of China however. THAT is the Fixed Version by several reason....
In fact, i start to complete the Jigsaw piece by piece, specially about the spoiler:
Than was why the Chinesse will help the Republicans in the SCW, I Think we gonna se a 'limited' SSJW that will be negotiated with 'mainly' Soviet Help(the Manchuria is so close to the border of both sides but when Barbarossa...)
Well, that are my thoughts and critics/suggestions.... we're enter the most important era in the Dark Alley... the Nazi crisis(Rhineland,Spanish Civil war, Anchluss,etc) and with the new chiang china.. i want to see how that developmt..
I wish luck in the university
Att
Nivek von Beldo
Schweet! We are back in business with a bang!
I'm not sure how this will go on but by the looks of it, it's half the world ganging up on Japan. The pressure would probably enpough to force Japan to concede as mentioned in your previous update. Which kind of reminds me, Is your TL's Japan same as IOTL's Japan?
I'm not sure how this will go on but by the looks of it, it's half the world ganging up on Japan. The pressure would probably enpough to force Japan to concede as mentioned in your previous update. Which kind of reminds me, Is your TL's Japan same as IOTL's Japan?