The Study On The Cooperation Between Zhang Lan And The Communist Party Of China In The United Front Work

As one of the founders of the China Democratic League(CDL),Zhang Lan was a prestigious revolutionist,leading the democratic parties and China.He went through all stages of the Old and New Democratic Revolution,which is the epitome of the Modern History of Chinese Revolution.In his lifetime,Zhang Lan was committing to leading his members of CDL to cooperate with the Communist Party of China(CPC)in the united front work,participating in the establishment of New China.Hence,the paper studies the relations between Zhang Lan and the CPC's united front work.In this way,this paper may demonstrate such typical cooperation,which is helpful to seek the historical reason for building China's new political party system and improve the ability to engage in the united front work for the democratic parties and non-party intellectuals.Zhang Lan was born in the late Qing Dynasty that confronted the internal and external “troubles”.When he was young,his overseas education background made him realize that it's impossible for Chinese to achieve freedom and democracy due to the rule of the feudal landlord class.Zhang Lan formed his early thoughts on the democratic revolution during the following two historical events: Movement of Protecting Railway(a revolutionary movement against imperialism and feudalism)and Military Campaign Against Yuan Shih-kai.Consequently,he was,in a sense,the“supporter” of CPC at a certain time,and his thoughts laid a solid ideological foundation for cooperating with CPC in the united front work.Then,after the OctoberRevolution,Marxism came to China.In addition,the outbreak of the May 4th Movement provided convenience for him to learn about the Marxism,prompting him to move on to the CPC in the process of his self-transformation.After CPC putting forward the National United Front for the Resistance Against Japanese Aggression,Zhang Lan made efforts to cooperate with CPC in launching the united front work,striving for the national independence and Chinese liberation.In late Anti-Japanese War,Zhang Lan,on behave of CDL,reached “Gentleman's Agreement” with CPC,furthering showing their relations of cooperation.After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War,during the process of mediating the relations between the Kuo Min Tang(KMT)and CPC,Zhang Lan gradually abandoned the illusion of “Middle Road”,started to respond to the CPC's call of setting up the peoples democratic united front,and adopted the "Leaning to One Side" policy,in order to conform with the wish of the people,i.e.perusing peace,democracy and improvement.Zhang Lan's acceptance of CPC's leadership marks that his thoughts on the revolution and the founding of the country were changed fundamentally.After the founding of the New China,Zhang Lan positively responded to the CPC's call of “Dedication for New China's Construction”,making a contribution for the CPC's implementation of the united front work in the early years after the founding of the People's Republic of China.The paper takes the historical experience of Zhang Lan's cooperation with the CPC in the united front work under the context of the modern society.It's significant for both the self-building of the democratic parties and non-party intellectuals,and the exploration on creating the theory and practice in the new political party system and the CPC's united front work.