The role of class struggle in the Chinese Communist Party's social reform: A case study of Rushan County from 1943 to 1949.

摘要

One of the most critical turning points in Chinese history, the civil war of 1945-1949 heralded both the military victory of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the beginnings of nearly three decades of Marxist totalitarianism. Yet, despite its significance in shaping China, this period remains one of the most grossly understudied subjects in Western historical inquiry. Using the example of one county, Rushan, in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong, I aim not only to bring to light the often forgotten history of the Civil War, but to view CCP mobilization and success from alternative perspectives, as well as offer perspectives for future study. Through the use of both recently released archival materials from mainland China and a hermeneutic method of interpretation, my research uncovers a tumultuous and often dark story, and a strong, coercive and top-down aspect in CCP policy, often shaped by conflicting policy agendas rather than coherent strategies of mobilization. All this points to the importance of understanding the process of mobilization and CCP inner politics in order to understand the Communist victory.