The Mass Mobilization Policy And The Transforming Of Kuomintang (1924-1927)

During the National Revolution, mass policy of Kuomintang experienced a process of transform from mobilizing to suppressing. Observing the mobilization work did by Kuomintang, the orbit of transforming can be revealed, and move a further step to explore the deep roots of the transform.Under the double impact of the external conditions change and the internal pressure, Kuomintang led by Sun Yat-sen had realized the tremendous strength in the people and the importance of mobilizing the mass to participate in the National Revolution. The policy of mobilizing the mass was established in the first national congress of Kuomintang. For Kuomintang, formulating policies to mobilize the mass indicated that Kuomintang had gradually become the party of the masses.The extensive mobilization wad first launched in Guangdong Province, with particular emphasis on organizing and mobilizing farmers and workers, and achieved good effects. At that time, a lot of class conflict and struggle had appeared. These class struggle issues were strongly avoided by Kuomintang, only as it is still within the tolerance range of Kuomintang at that time, Kuomintang still supported the policy of mobilizing the mass. The mobilization effects made Guangdong Province to be the center of the National Revolution, and laid a solid foundation to advance the National Revolution for Kuomintang.At the same time, Kuomintang actively launched the mass mobilization in the northern area. Kuomintang advocated clearly that the unequal treaties be cancelled and convene the national conference. Kuomintang spread this appoint in different ways such as declarations, correspondences and sending a diplomatic mission, in the same time, Kuomintang operated the organized system of the party and league, to control and lead the mass leagues in Beijing to assemble the masses and demonstrate to the government. These actions achieved some good results. As one part of the whole mass mobilization, this is also the important way for Kuomintang to launch the process of the national Revolution to the northern area. And as revolutionary party, Kuomintang expanded the influence in the northern area, the idea of National Revolution deeply rooted in the mass, formed the situation that the south and north connected together to launch the National Revolution.After the Northern Expedition, Kuomintang adjusted the mass mobilization policy, gradually showing two trends. As the revolutionary rear and base, Kuomintang pulled back the mass mobilization policy in Guangdong Province to emphasize the political stability and guarantee the variety of support for the Northern Expedition. Corresponding to this, with the development of military action in Northern Expedition, Kuomintang pushed the mass mobilization policy to the leftist radical during the Wuhan period.Due to the victory march of the Northern Expedition, the legitimate policy environment was provided to further promote the policy of mass mobilization for Kuomintang. The mass movement in these areas has been further developed, and a lot of issues were exposed. In the process to deal with these issues, Kuomintang constantly adjusted its mobilization policy. Because of the development of the contradictions between the mass movement and the related benefits group, Kuomintang finally fell into the dilemma. Observing the farmer movement in Hunan Province which was developed with the slogan of defeating the tyrants and evil gentry, and the labor union of store employees in Wuhan, it was found that the contradictions between the mass movement and the related benefits group gradually intensified. On the one hand, the revolutionary of the mass increased, on the other hand, the related benefits group tenacious resisted, the contradictions affected the direction of Kuomintang mass mobilization policy adjustments.The coup on April12th and July15th, was the sign of the mass policy of Kuomintang overall shifted. Kuomintang turned mobilizing to suppressing the mass, even crackdown the mass. This transforming was a process, and Chiang Kai-shek's personal attitude change of the mass mobilization can be fairly representative. He supported the mass mobilization in the early years, confirmed the importance of the mass movement in the National Revolution, turned to suppress the mass and destroy the groups. The key was his fundamental position had changed. The transforming of Kuomintang was based on the change of fundamental position. The benefits groups conflicted with interests of the mass, Kuomintang took the position of the benefits groups, and suppressed the mass movement.To comment the mass mobilization policy and the transforming of Kuomintang during the National Revolution, several specific aspects should be concerned, including mass mobilization and National Revolution, mass mobilization and the three doctrines of proposed by Sun Yat-sen, the development and deficiency of Kuomintang, the cooperation of Kuomintang and the Communist Party, the social and historical perspectives. Generally speaking, during the National Revolution, there was inevitability and necessity for Kuomintang to establish the mass mobilization policy, and this is the critical factor to obtain the victory of the revolution. And speaking of the comprehensive transformation of Kuomintang, the fundamental position should be the point to explore the roots. Kuomintang obtained the victory of National Revolution by mobilizing the mass and relying on the strength of the mass, and established the effective rule rapidly. While suppressing the mass, Kuomintang had set itself as the next revolution object. Therefore, it was actually cultivated the strength to overthrow the rule of Kuomintang, while suppressing the mass.