From Clashes To Stable

As a model of Chinese modernization, Shanghai witnessed the rise of new classes, new social conflicts and new social relations in the 1920s—1930s. The new social order and structure provide with an important case for the study of the process of Chinese modernization. The present dissertation takes labor-capital relationship, a new-born but already leading social relation in Shanghai, as its research focus. The inquiry into the process from clashes to stable development during the period of 1925—1931 has revealed the inherent law and social influence of labor-capital relation. The dissertation consists of 4 chapters.Chapter 1 introduces the background of labor-capital clashes. Industrialization started from the opening of Shanghai, since then the labor-capital relationship developed, sometimes with violent clashes. Upon the 20th century, Shanghai had become the industrial and commercial center of China, which amassed capital and labor force to an intensive degree. Labor unions grew after 1920 and nationalism was introduced into the labor-capital relation. Upon 1925 such relation had already been tensed up.Chapter 2 centers itself on the breakout and climax of labor-capital clashes. The author considers there are both subjective and objective reasons underlying the tide of strikes. The fact that people had more material demand with social economic development accounted for the subjective elements, while objectively, all interest groups active in Shanghai started to seize power in the 1920s and they all got involved in labor-capital relationship. Meanwhile nationalism furthered and broadened the clashes to an unprecedented degree.Chapter 3 explores the tendency of the clashes. Prolonged clashes brought about considerable loss to both the labor and the capital. Therefore, the Nationalist government led by Jiang Jie-shi realigned with force the labor-capital relation in response to the capitalist demand. As a result, the tempestuous labor movement was suppressed. Meanwhile, the Nationalist party achieved a double purpose to drive away its political opponents and rebuild their state authority. In order to stabilize the labor-capital relation on a long run, the nationalist government made a second effort. Judging from the development trend of the relationship from 1927—1931, the realignment was rather a success.Chapter 4 is a systematic study of the function of Nationalist government in the relationship. The reason that the relation could turn from turbulence to harmonious development lies in a "social security valve" of collective-agreement-based mechanism set up by the Nationalist government. The mechanism guaranteed a legitimate settlement of clashes and interest of both parties. Moreover, the government established a third-party intermediary system to deal with most clashes. However, the agency of the government did not apply to the whole shanghai, with the Concessions as an exception.The conclusion makes a summery of the process of the labor-capital clashes and puts forward implications of the research.