Research On Squirearchy And Rural Governance From The Perspective Of Autonomous Governance ——A Case Study Of The Rural Construction Movement Of Dingxian County In The Period Of The Republic Of China

In traditional Chinese society,squirearchy,as a bridge connecting state power and rural society,had always been the main force of rural social governance.However,under the strict restriction of the autocratic dynasties,squires could only assist local government in the management of rural public affairs,and generally had no right to govern the rural society independently.After the Opium War,with the continuous invasion of western forces,the traditional Chinese rural society had undergone great changes.The status of squirearchy in the power structure of rural society had also changed and its right to govern the countryside had been expanded.During the Period of the Republic of China,the central government reformed the rural society,and in order to make up for the lack of resources,the government continued the local autonomy policy introduced in the late Qing Dynasty.This practice created space for squires to govern public affairs and allocate public resources independently.Based on the rural construction movement of Dingxian County,Hebei Province in the Republic of China,this paper studied local squirearchy and found that there are obvious differences between the then squirearchy and that of the traditional society,mainly manifested in that the role of squirearchy had changed from the agent of rural governance authority to the organizer of rural autonomous governance.What’s more,in the process of rural governance,squires gradually mastered the dominant power of rural autonomous governance by means of hierarchical organization,control of rural resources,establishment of guard corps,and formulation of modern regulations,with the help of local autonomy policy.This made the local government had to rely more and more on local squirearchy in implementing policies and absorbing resources in the rural society,which promoted the process of rural democracy to a great extent,reduced the financial pressure of the government,and created a good atmosphere in rural society.But at the same time,it also led to the development of squirearchy in the direction of hegemonic squire and evil squire,intensifying the contradiction between squires and plebs,and exacerbating rural decay.After the founding of the People’s Republic of China,the Communist Party of China carried out land reform and class discourse in the rural society,and squires thus lost the resources to maintain their status and withdrew from the stage of Chinese history.After the implementation of reform and opening up,rural elites began to play their roles in rural society again.Among them,a group of virtuous and competent people dubbed “New Country Squires” have been playing an increasingly important role in modernizing rural governance and revitalizing rural areas.Historical experience,including the autonomous rural governance led by squirearchy during the rural construction movement of Dingxian County,can provide beneficial enlightenment for the development of the new country squires.