An Analysis Of The Rural Governance Of Weihaiwei

From 1898 to 1930, Weihaiwei Garrison was forcibly leased by the Great Britain for 32 years. During this period, in order to maintain its prestige ruling order in Weihaiwei, the British colonial government established a set of effective power operation and distribution mechanism in the power structure of government according to Weihaiwei local traditions and western political system characteristics. In addition, the colonial government also took a series of unique control measures in justice and social security, culture, education,health and epidemic prevention and other aspects of the countryside. The above measures, introduced the advanced experience of the western law, while retained the Chinese traditional governance measures beneficial part, further to achieve a good governance effect and the integration of Chinese and western cultures. Systematic and detailed researches on Weihaiwei Garrison rural governance during the leased period have critical historic and practical significance, particularly to the modernization of Chinese rural construction.This paper is based on the historical facts, the existing views of papers. During the composition of this thesis, such skills as historical analysis and normative analysis were employed to introduce the specific content of Wehaiwei Garrison’s rural governance measures, to summarize its characteristics in the social environment. The text is divided into four parts, Hereunder is the structure and content of this thesis:The first part introduces structures of the colonial governing mechanism in Weihaiwei Garrison, which has given us a better understanding of its power, operation mechanism, leased territory officials’ power and obligations, government structure, the special and important role of village headman and district headman in the colonial government. Chief Administrator of Weihaiwei Garrison had the supreme power within himself of administration, legislation and judicature all by himself, however this did not lead to dictatorship while on the contrary had very positive effect on the administration. This had a sharp contrast with the Chinese polities that craved for a road of democracy by decentralizing state’s power. In the rural area, the implementation of system of village headman and district headman insured the stability and order of the society.The second part is an introduction of judicial and police systems in Weihaiwei Garrison, which has given us a better understanding of the emergence and development of police system,which contributed a lot to the social order at that time.The formation of a combination of Chinese and western judicial system while maintaining the original legal habits of China,proved that we can absorb the beneficial factors of local culture while absorbing the western fine legal governance experience.The third part is a research on the measures taken by the colonial government in the education and culture, medical and epidemic prevention and economic development in Weihaiwei Garrison. Education,culture and health and epidemic prevention as public utilities of local government, has always played an important proportion of governance in local affairs. And the development of local economy as the proper meaning of local governance, but also the basis and premise of the development of other fields. The economic and trade developed stably, the private education rised widely, health conditions have been further improved during the period Weihaiwei Garrison leased by British. The appearance of the above situation has a direct connection with the political system of the colonial government mentioned above, because the good social system and the stable social order are the foundation of the social development.The fourth part is a summary of the characteristics of the rural governance of the Weihaiwei Garrison. Through the analysis of the power structure of the colonial government, rural power operation mechanism, the judicial system and the police system a, we found that during the period Weihaiwei Garrison leased by British, the western rulers did not copy the western mode of governance, but retained the traditional Chinese governance experience, and made full use of the rural elite by absorbing them into the colonial government, thus forming a good ruling effect.