The Research On The New Life Movement In Shanxi,1934～1937

In the 20th century,the urgent national crisis and the modernization pressure in Chinese society shaped the governance and development pattern of grass-roots society profoundly.In order to adapt to the new development situation and requirements,accepting the guidance of the catch-up development concept and relying on state power to reform society and individual has become a more attractive option.Guided by this idea,On February 19,1934,Chiang Kai-shek launched the New Life Movement that covered most parts of China in Nanchang camp.It attempts to shape the civil modern personality and quality,activate and integrate social forces to create conditions for modernization through the movement-style governance of top-down and overall mobilization of various resources.This idea is consistent with Yen Hsi-shan’s policy measures and received his positive response and full support quickly.Led by the New Life Movement Promotion Associations in Shanxi Province,the New Life Movement was launched officially around "clean","rules","San-Hua" and social customs reform.As a epitome of movement-style governance,the New Life Movement in Shanxi Province presents two sides of "daily movement" and "mobilized governance" simultaneously.The former points to the "dailiness" of the scope and object of social governance,showing the appearance of a "life revolution" covering the daily lives of various members of society;the latter shows the "mobilization" of social governance strategies and mechanisms,trying to mobilize a wide range of social forces and build a impactful governance picture.To some extent,the New Life Movement of Shanxi Province has helped to change the social climate,standardize individual behavior and spread the idea of civilization.However,due to the exorbitant setting of governance objectives,decoupling and even deviation from the actual needs of the people,the insufficient revolutionary will of managers and participants,and the lack of strict organizational foundation and strong social mobilization and governance ability,the two sides of Shanxi Province New Life Movement are gradually distorted in its implementation,which bothered people’s life conversely.Its vision of establishing a rational and orderly modern life and shaping modern citizens has finally been shattered.