Research On Local Autonomy In Last Years Of Qing Dynasty

In last years of Qing Dynasty, the central government was faced with troubles at home and aggression from abroad, meanwhile the economy of capitalism was growing and the bourgeoisie was active. With deep understanding of western political civilization and local autonomy theory in citizens, the movement of local autonomy was prosperous. The government tried to promote local autonomy for their own interests, and local autonomy exhibited the wish of government and people to enhance the strength of the country. The movement of local autonomy not only went further in the social transformation, also inspired the later political reform. This article discusses with the system of local autonomy, according to the related materials.The article is made up of five parts:Part I is about the introduction of local autonomy, and the initiation of local autonomy theory in Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the budbreak in the period of Wu Hsu Reform and the formation and development in the early 20th century.Part II is about the system of local autonomy in last years of Qing Dynasty. This part first illustrates the dominance hierarchy's opinion on local autonomy; then analyzes canonically the local autonomy community, local autonomy affair, autonomy supervising; at last discuss two modes of implementing local autonomy—overnmental and nongovernmental.Part III is about the practice of local autonomy, respectively from the angles of governmental and nongovernmental. In the part of governmental autonomy, taking Tianjin for example, the article first dissects the mode of Tianjin autonomy from the aspects of local autonomy community, election affair, setting up Tianjin town meeting and board of directors, and local governments'supervising; then introduces the effect of Zhili local autonomy, including Zhili's personnel training of local autonomy, higher authorities' promotion and low level groups'development. In the part of nongovernmental autonomy, targeting at the Shanghai Autonomy Mairie and Suzhou People's Commune, the article introduces the foundation of Shanghai Autonomy Mairie, setting up town meeting and board of directors, and local governments'supervising; discusses with Suzhou People's Commune's foundation, election system, organization, implementing procedures and the relationship between People's Commune and the governments.Part IV is about the value of local autonomy in Qing Dynasty. This part discusses with local autonomy of Qing Dynasty's influence on the local autonomy of the Republic of China, the advantages and shortcomings of the local autonomy of Qing Dynasty, and finally demonstrates the Qing Dynasty's enlightenment to modern social reform.