Control And Counteraction

During 1930s and 1940s, Gansu provincial government was required to implement the Bao-Jia system with a view of strengthening the control over grassroots society. Before Anti-Japanese War, the result of preliminary execution of the Bao-Jia system by the local government was far from satisfactory and during the war time, the Bao-Jia system was carried on through various means and promoted even to such ethnic regions as inhabited by Meng people and Tibetans. In the course of all-out Civil War period, this system was further reinforced in collaboration with the coordination of the Bao-Jia organizations, checking of populations and civilian training.On the other hand, the efforts exerted by Gansu government in tightening the control of masses were met with resistance from all walks of life. The low efficiency and financial problems facing Gansu provincial government made it difficult to carry out the system to the end and improper selection of candidates could not assure that the Bao-Jia system acted as a bridge for better communication between the government and the general public;on the contrary, the system estranged ordinary people further away from the Kuomintang political power. That was why the masses were indifferent and even passive in response to the government orders. The above-mentioned reasons eventually led to limited success: the traditional function of the Bao-Jia system was not fully fulfilled and as a result the Gansu provincial government failed in its endeavor to strengthen the control over grassroots society.