Theory And Practice Of The Take-over Of Cities By CPC During China's War Of Liberation

The theory and practice of the take-over of cities by CPC during China's War of liberation is a problem closely related to the three historic transitions of the society in contemporary Chinese history. The take-over of cities by CPC has special historical significance in China's revolution. It is the central part of CPC's shift of her orientation from countryside to cities and is a core in the establishment of the new-democratic political, economic, cultural and social order and lays a solid foundation for the different tasks in China's socialist construction. Therefore, the theory and practice of the take-over of cities by CPC during China's War of Liberation is vitally important in the field of Marxism studies.Historical, philological and systems science methods have been employed in this paper together with the combination of theory and practice and that of macro and micro perspectives. All these contribute to the systematic elaboration on the historical process, scientific theory, basic policy, success cases, strategic position and revelation of CPC's take-over of cities during China's War of Liberation. It is of great academic as well as theoretic and practical value.This dissertation consists of six chapters:Chapter one dwells on the foundation of the choice of this topic, academic significance, literature review, research basis, methodology, framework of the dissertation, innovative ideas, etc.Chapter two focuses on the historical process of the take-over of cities by CPC. The period from the take-over of some cities at the end of the Anti-Japanese War to the fulfillment of the democratic reform in cities at the end of 1952 is further divided into four phases, i.e. from the end of the Anti-Japanese War to the full-scale outbreak of the Civil War, from the outbreak of the Civil War to the First half of 1948, from the Second half of 1948 to the Second Plenum of the 7th Central Committee of CPC, and from the Second Plenum of the 7th Central Committee of CPC to takeovers during the first years of the founding of the new China. Attention has been directed to the policy systems, characteristics and achievements of the takeover of cities during these four phases.Chapter three concentrates on the scientific theory of the take-over of cities by CPC. It is asserted that the classic Marxist conception of cities is the theoretical foundation of the take-over of cities by CPC during China's War of Liberation. The discussions on cities by classic Marxist writers provide theoretical guidance for CPC on this respect. With classic Marxist conception of cities as guidance and the concrete situation of China as our stand, CPC has created a rich theoretical framework of the take-over of cities, which proves powerful guidance for our relevant work. It is held that the New-Democratic Theory is the theoretical foundation of the take-over of cities by CPC during China's War of Liberation and it provides theoretical guidance for the takeovers. Under the guidance of the New-Democratic Theory, CPC demolished the privileges of imperialist countries in China, overthrew the corrupt Kuomintang government, confiscated the monopoly capital of the Four Families, protected national businesses, turned the semi-feudal and semi-colonial cities into new-democratic ones. It is claimed that leaders of CPC such as Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi and Zhou Enlai provided series of important ideas for the take-over, management, reform and construction of cities and formed a systematic and integrated theoretical system.Chapter four is about the basic policies of CPC's take-over of cities. The basic economic policy for the take-over consists of the confiscation of bureaucratic capital, the protection of private businesses and the implementation of new-democratic policies of currency, finance, tax and trade; the basic political policies of the take-over comprise the demolishment of the corrupt Kuomintang government, the founding of the new-democratic city government, the establishment of the system of the congress of representatives from different walks of life; the cultural polices include the take-over of ole cultural and educational institutions, the take-over of old news agencies and presses and the publicity policy of CPC; the policies of foreign affairs are related to diplomacy, foreign capital, foreign trade, customs, foreign missionary, foreign newspapers and presses, foreign journalists and schools, hospitals, cultural and charity institutions funded by foreign countries; the social policies is about salaries, price, employment, estate, education, medical care, foods, etc.Chapter five elaborates on the successful examples in the take-over of cities by CPC. The take-over of Shenyang City is taken as an example, because it solved two difficulties which are universal:quick and integrated take-over, and quick recovery and restoration of city order. This provided CPC with precious experience concerning city take-over and the running and management of state-owned big enterprises. The take-over of Beijing and Tianjin is a check of this experience and set a good example for the subsequent take-over of other big cities. The take-over of Bejing and Tianjin created the perfect model of such take-over and symbolized the maturity of the city work by CPC. These two take-over tested the Shenyang experience and set good examples for the take-over of other big cities. From the preparation of take-over to the take-over, from the reform of the city to the construction of the city, the whole process of the take-over is orderly and complete, with every step being precise and meticulous. Later on, CPC make Beijing the capital of the new China, which makes its take-over even more significant. The take-over of Shanghai is mainly about the recovery of the market order disturbed by capitalists and the stabilization of the economy. This successful take-over is a proof of the ability of CPC to rule the whole country.Chapter six deals with the strategic position of the take-over of cities by CPC. It is held that the take-over of cities is the fundamental symbol of the final victory of China's revolution, a vital step for China from a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society to a new independent society with the people as the master of the whole nation. The transformation from new-democratic revolution to socialist revolution and construction needs certain social and historical conditions and material basis and it must experience a process of construction of the political, economic, cultural as well as social order and system by the new-democratic republic and develop the political, economic and cultural elements fully. The take-over of cities lay a solid foundation for the transformation from new-democratic revolution to socialist revolution and construction. In order to meet the challenges in city work, CPC promotes her Marxist theoretic cultivation, applies strict rules and disciplines and advocates the policy of probity and justice, and that of hard work. Cities are managed according to the features and laws of city work. With the responsible attitude towards our nation and country, CPC takes the take-over of cities as an opportunity for the construction of a modern state. The scientific conception formed in the take-over of cities, the working policies and managerial experience provide an important revelation for the transformation from highly centralized plan economy to socialist market economy full of vitality and from closeness to comprehensive openness.Compared with the research results of the author and those of other researchers, this dissertation manifests its innovation in the following four respects:First, this paper constructs the theoretic system of the take-over of cities by CPC and enriches and consolidates new-democratic theory. In terms of the researches on new-democratic theory, there is no relevant research on the take-over of cities by CPC. As a matter of fact, CPC presents rich theories concerning the take-over of cities. Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, Ren Bishi, Chen Yu and other leaders of CPC performed deep and comprehensive discussion on the take-over of cities. With the take-over, management, reform and construction of cities as a focus, a series of basic questions are answered concerning city take-over, including the work focus of our Party, the central task, reliable force, organizational guarantee, the goal of city reform and development, city management, and democratic construction of cities. An integrated and systematic theoretic framework has been thus worked out. This research in this way will make a special contribution to the new-democratic theory.Second, it is asserted in this paper that the new-democratic theory is a guide for the take-over of cities. The new-democratic theory pointed out the tasks concerning the struggle against imperialism, feudalism and comprador capitalism. Under its guidance, CPC set the main task of city take-over as the abolishment of the privileges of imperialist power in China, the confiscation of comprador capital, the smashing of Kuo Mintang government and the founding of new-democratic city government. The new-democratic social theory raised the question of the construction of a new-democratic republic, under the guidance of which, CPC transformed semi-colonial and semi-feudal cities into new-democratic ones in the process of city take-over. New-democratic political, economic, cultural and social policies are implemented in cities. The new-democratic social theory asserts that a new-democratic society cannot be based upon natural economy, and the development of China will have to be based on industrial development. Industry is the main economic foundation of the new-democratic society. This makes it a must for CPC to pay due attention to industrial development, to protect existent productive force, to cherish the talented and to recover and development city production. Third, a profound study has been performed on the period and the criteria of the historical process of the take-over of cities. The whole process of city take-over is divided into four phases and the basic criteria include:the scale and nature of the cities taken over, the degree of perfection of the city taken over, the temporary achievement in the take-over of cities. The scale and nature of the cities taken over have a direct influence on the maturity of the take-over of cities. In our take-over of medium and small cities, CPC's work is limited and the contradictions and relations to be solved are rather simple. When big cities like Shijiazhuang, Jinan, Shenyang, Beijing, Tianjing were taken over, the relevant work touches upon all different aspects and this helps develop CPC's capacity to deal with city work. Policies for the take-over of cities are the main reliance for city take-over. These polices directly guide relevant practice and directly influence the process of city take-over. With the gradual perfection of CPC's polices, the take-over of cities perfects itself. Temporary achievements per se are important symbol for period of the process of city take-over. This period is reasonable and scientific and fully reflects the law governing city take-over. This helps further understand the relationship between city take-over, China's War of Liberation and the construction of a new China.Fourth, this paper creatively links the take-over of cities by CPC with the three historic transformations in contemporary China. The take-over happened at the anaphase of China's War of Revolution and the early days of the founding of PRC, a period of transition from semi-colonial and semi-feudal societies to new-democratic society and further to socialist society. The take-over is around the central task of the founding and construction of a new-democratic society and its transition to a socialist one. The take-over of cities is a symbol of the take-over of the national government and is the beginning of the transition from new-democratic to socialist period. The take-over of cities is an all-round task and CPC views it as an opportunity for the construction of a modern state. The relative complete new-democratic society is founded in the process of city take-over. The political, economic, cultural and social construction of cities provides a solid foundation for the socialist reform. The take-over of cities is a check of CPC's capacity to rule and govern. The take-over of cities is a vital step for China from a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society to a new independent society with the people as the master of the whole nation. CPC takes the take-over of cities as an opportunity for the construction of a modern state. The conceptions, experience and policies brooded in city take-over has great significance for the promotion of the reform and opening up, the socialist construction of modernization and the realization of the three historic transformations in Chinese society.