RURAL ECONOMY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN NATIONALIST CHINA: CHEKIANG PROVINCE, 1927-1937.

摘要

This dissertation is a study of rural economic and local government conditions in a single, well controlled province (Chekiang) under Chinese Nationalist hegemony. An important theme is the inter-relationship between economics and government. Because of the emphasis given conservative bureaucratic methods of rule by Chiang K'ai-shek's regime during the Nanking decade, the adequate funding of local government was of special importance. Yet Nationalist attempts to expand and reform local rule at this time coincided with crushing natural disasters and an economic depression that not only broke down traditional restraints in rural economic relations, but drastically cut vital land tax revenues. How well the Nationalist authorities responded to these and other obstacles in their efforts to rule in the localities, both at the county and sub-county levels, is the central focus of this study.