A Study On The Evolvement Of Chinese Communist Image In The Novels By British And American Journalists During Yan'an Period

During the Yan'an period,the Communist Party of China,putting the national interests first,always maintained the domestic anti-Japanese national united front and adopted the policy of mobilizing the whole nation and safeguarding the interests of the people in order to win the victory.In the process of implementing democratic politics and seeking to establish a coalition government in the border areas and the base areas,the CPC has not only won the love and support of the masses,but also gained rapid increase in its political status in the country.During this period,the Kuomintang can no longer impose blockades and its dictatorship on the CPC,and the latter hence has gradually embarked on the stage of international politics.Many of the Western journalists have witnessed this process because of the world anti-fascist war and also the complexity and ever-changing status of the Chinese revolution.This thesis divides the Yan'an period into four stages: before 1936,1936 to 1939,1940 to 1943,1943 to 1948,and thus sorts out the reasons why Western journalists concerned themselves with the CPC,the attitude of the CPC towards the journalists,the changing image of the CPC through the different stages,and the influences of these journalists on shaping the image.Before 1936,Western journalists did not pay much attention to the CPC.The western understanding of the CPC was limited to the Kuomintang's distorted reports.Only a small number of journalists had a rudimentary knowledge of the CPC through contacts and exchanges with Chinese democratic activists like Soong Ching Ling and Lu Xun or with some of the Party members or the generals in the Red Army.From 1936 to 1939,Western journalists' attention was attracted by the Edgar Snow's visit to the Red Zone,the Xi'an Incident,the second cooperation betweeen the KMT and the CPC,and the victory at the Pingxing Pass.From 1940 to 1943,due to the three anti-communist climax by Kuomintang and the CPC's performance in the war against Japan Western journalists learned the status quo of the CCP through the CPC's propaganda and front line interview although they could not reach Yan'an.From 1944 to 1946,as the world anti-fascist war proceeded,the United States,for their own interests,started to reconcile the KMT-CPC relations,and most KMT members became passive resisters.The series of changes have made Western journalists begin to follow the policies of both parties and the development of China.The CPC launched a series of "public diplomacy" activities to win domestic and international support by giving receptions to Western journalists by Party leaders and providing convenience to the journalists.The image of the Communist Party of China has also experienced four stages.The first image was mysterious and "red bandits".The second image was depicted as poor living conditions but a united and vibrant military and civilians.The third stage was characterized by self-discipline.The CPC had perfect military discipline and kept fighting against Japan.In the fourth stage,Western journalists considered the CCP like the Americans.Western journalists have had a profound influence on shaping the western image of the CCP.It helped the CPC win the sympathy of international community and to some extent affected the US policy toward China,as well as introduced the CCP from Yan'an to the world.Thus recognizing the excellent quality and fine style of the CCP in the Yan'an period,and finally contributed to the rapid growth of the CCP.It is these factors organized the long-term operations against Japan successfully,and ultimately completely broke the Kuomintang blockade,out of Yan'an and gradually boarded the international political arena.