A Study On Ethnic Minority Trade In Wenshan During The Initial Period Of The People's Republic Of China(1950-1965)

During the initial period of the People's Republic of China,the market was largely controlled by bureaucrats and landlords in some border ethnic minority areas since the democratic government had not been established in these areas.In order to establish democratic government,the Communist Party of China implemented the policy of "Trade ere Government" as a way of developing ethnic minority trade in these border areas.Situated in the southwestern borders of China,Yunnan Province boasts ethnic minority trade,with Wenshan as its representative.The literature is scarce concerning the research into the ethnic minority trade in Wenshan during the initial period of the People's Republic of China.Based on archives,oral accounts of ethnic minority traders and newspapers,this thesis attempted to systematically study the ethnic minority trade in Wenshan during the initial period of the People's Republic ofChina.Chronically,the development of the ethnic minority trade in Wenshan experienced three phases:flourishing(1950-1957),frustration(1958-1961)and progression(1962-1965).The course of its development thematically boils down to four aspects:(1)When the market of Wenshan was explored by the state-run trade,state-run commercial networks were set up to stabilize princes and for buying and selling of agricultural and sideline products from all ethnic groups,and in the meanwhile utilized private merchants were utilized for ethnic trade.(2)After the system of ethnic minority trade was improved,ethnic trade companies were founded in Funing,Maguan,and Malipo counties for the purpose of producing and supplying special commodities for ethnic minorities.(3)Given that Wenshan Prefecture shares borders with Vietnam,cross-border small-scale trade was developed to accommodate the mutual trade between the sharing borders of two countries and for the convenience of ethnic minorities.(4)A great many of ethnic cadres were trained to assure the smooth development of ethnic minority trade in Wenshan.Ethnic minority trade was the forerunner policy implemented before the establishment of people's government in border ethnic minority areas.The development of ethnic minority trade revived the production,improved living conditions and boosted the economy in the backward border ethnic minority areas of Yunnan Province.In the meantime,the development of ethnic minority trade helped the Communist Party of China propagate its ethnic policies and win ethnic groups'trust,and thus laid a solid foundation for the establishment of democratic government.Furthermore,the development of ethnic minority trade was conducive to consolidating borderland security and national stability,fostering ethnic unity and strengthening the development of China as a unified country with many ethnic groups.Ethnic minority trade still carries a big weight in todays' socialist market economy.We still have to fully recognize the importance of ethnic minority trade.In the era of market economy,the form,content,and scale of ethnic minority trade have changed.Therefore,following the objectives and directions of national ethnic affairs,ethnic policies are to be adjusted accordingly in due time in order to promote the development of border areas and the country.