‘The most important turning point in the development of the Chinese economy in the years from 1839 to 1989 was the rule of Jiang Jieshi.’ How far do you agree?
Level
A Level
Year Examined
2022
Topic
China and its rulers 1839-1989
👑Complete Model Essay
‘The most important turning point in the development of the Chinese economy in the years from 1839 to 1989 was the rule of Jiang Jieshi.’ How far do you agree?
The Most Important Turning Point in the Development of the Chinese Economy: Jiang Jieshi vs. Other Contenders
The question of the most significant turning point in China's economic development between 1839 and 1989 is a matter of debate. While Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek) and his financial advisor T.V. Soong enacted significant reforms, it is debatable whether their impact overshadowed the influence of other pivotal moments. Some argue that their efforts laid the groundwork for Deng Xiaoping's later economic reforms, but others contend that the Self-Strengthening Movement, the 1949 revolution, and Deng's own policies had a more profound impact on China's economic trajectory.
Jiang Jieshi's Contributions: The Seeds of Modernization
Supporters of Jiang's significance point to his attempts to foster a modern economy. His government established the China Development Finance Corporation to finance industrial modernization, effectively centralizing control over Chinese banks. This foreshadowed Deng's "Second Modernization" program, which aimed for further economic development. Jiang's administration also prioritized infrastructure development, improving road, rail, and air travel networks, while establishing a modern telephone and telegraph system in major cities. These advancements, while limited in scope, set the stage for future economic growth.
Furthermore, Jiang's government actively sought to reassert control over foreign concessions and established the National Resources Commission to negotiate international trade agreements. This signaled a shift towards greater economic autonomy, although ultimately hampered by internal instability and the looming threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Jiang's government also provided subsidies to emerging industries, particularly in Shanghai's fashion and film sectors. This can be seen as a precursor to Deng Xiaoping's Special Economic Zones, which fostered foreign investment and economic growth in specific areas.
Challenging Jiang's Dominance: Other Turning Points
However, detractors argue that Jiang's contributions were eclipsed by other pivotal events. They posit that the Self-Strengthening Movement (1861-1895), while ultimately unsuccessful, laid the foundation for modernizing China's economy by advocating for capitalism and initiating reforms in communication, trade, and joint-stock companies. These efforts predate Jiang's time in power and arguably had a larger influence on subsequent economic policies.
The 1949 revolution and the establishment of the CCP regime represent another crucial turning point. This event marked the near-complete dismantling of capitalism and the implementation of a new communist economic model, drastically altering China's economic landscape. The CCP's policies, such as land reform and collectivization, had a profound and enduring impact on the country's economic structure.
Finally, Deng Xiaoping's reforms in the 1970s and 1980s are widely considered the most transformative moment in China's economic history. Deng's policies, including opening up to foreign trade and investment, creating Special Economic Zones, and encouraging private enterprise, propelled China's economic growth to unprecedented heights. These reforms arguably had a more significant impact than Jiang's efforts, catapulting China onto the global economic stage.
Conclusion: A Complex Legacy
In conclusion, while Jiang Jieshi's administration made valuable contributions to modernizing the Chinese economy, his efforts were overshadowed by other significant turning points. The Self-Strengthening Movement, the 1949 revolution, and particularly Deng Xiaoping's reforms each had a more profound impact on shaping China's economic trajectory. While Jiang's government laid the groundwork for some of Deng's policies, it was Deng who ultimately implemented the strategies that led to China's economic miracle. Therefore, while Jiang's contributions should not be underestimated, it is difficult to argue that his era represented the most important turning point in China's economic development between 1839 and 1989.
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Essay Outline: The Most Important Turning Point in the Chinese Economy (1839-1989)
This essay will evaluate the claim that the rule of Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek) constituted the most important turning point in the development of the Chinese economy between 1839 and 1989. It will examine the arguments for and against this proposition, considering the contributions of the Qing dynasty, the Self-Strengthening Movement, the Communist revolution, and Deng Xiaoping's reforms.
Arguments Supporting Jiang Jieshi's Rule as a Key Turning Point
Modernisation Efforts and Foreshadowing of Deng's Reforms:
⭐Jiang and T.V. Soong's attempts to establish a modern economy, including initiatives like the China Development Finance Corporation, foreshadowed Deng's economic reforms.
⭐Centralisation of Chinese banks under Jiang's rule laid the groundwork for Deng's "Second Modernisation" program.
⭐Jiang's focus on infrastructure development (roads, railways, air travel, communication systems) served as a foundation for later economic growth.
⭐The GMD's efforts to reassert control over foreign concessions and negotiate trade deals anticipated Deng's opening up to the world.
⭐Government subsidies for industries like fashion and film in Shanghai, mirroring Deng's Special Economic Zones, demonstrated a proactive approach to economic development.
State Intervention and Importance of the Bureaucracy:
⭐Jiang's belief in the state's role in economic development was a departure from the Qing dynasty's laissez-faire approach.
⭐The continuity of the Chinese civil service and bureaucracy throughout the period underlines the enduring influence of centralised governance on economic policy.
Arguments Challenging Jiang Jieshi's Significance as a Turning Point
Prior Economic Developments and the Self-Strengthening Movement:
⭐Jiang's efforts to promote free-market capitalism were a continuation of the Self-Strengthening Movement's attempts to introduce modern technology and trade.
⭐The Self-Strengthening Movement anticipated many of Jiang's initiatives, including infrastructure development, trade negotiations, and the adoption of joint-stock companies.
The Communist Revolution and the Land Reform:
⭐The 1949 revolution marked a profound shift in the Chinese economy, replacing capitalism with a communist system.
⭐The Communist Party's land reform, abolishing private land ownership, fundamentally altered the agricultural structure and had a lasting impact on the economy.
Deng Xiaoping's Reforms as the Defining Turning Point:
⭐Deng's reforms, including trade liberalization, foreign investment, and the rise of a middle class, dramatically modernised China's economy.
⭐Deng's vision of "socialism with Chinese characteristics" was a departure from previous economic models and had a far greater impact on China's economic development than Jiang's initiatives.
Conclusion
While Jiang Jieshi's leadership saw some important steps towards economic modernization, it is debatable whether his rule constitutes the most significant turning point in Chinese economic history. The Self-Strengthening Movement paved the way for industrialization, while the Communist revolution brought about a fundamental ideological and structural change. Deng Xiaoping's reforms, with their far-reaching impact on trade, investment, and social structures, arguably represent the most definitive turning point in China's economic development during the period from 1839 to 1989. Ultimately, the significance of each period needs to be assessed within the broader context of China's complex economic history.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
Supporting the Hypothesis
It might be argued that Jiang and T.V. Soong launched the first attempts to create a modern economy for China, many of which foreshadowed Deng’s later changes.
Answers might argue that, like the later CCP, Jiang felt that the role of the state was crucial to the economy, while the Qing had taken little direct interest in the economy.
Answers might consider the foundation of the China Development Finance Corporation to raise money for the modernization of China’s industry. Chinese banks were also brought under central control. These moves foreshadowed Deng’s Second Modernisation.
Answers might consider GMD efforts to develop a modern economic infrastructure, with major improvements in road, rail and air travel; and the creation of a modern telephone and telegraph system in most main cities.
Answers might refer to the GMD’s attempts to reassert control over foreign concessions, and the setting up of the National Resources Commission to negotiate foreign trade deals.
Answers might refer to industries receiving government subsidies to help them establish themselves, for example the fashion and film industries of Shanghai. This can be seen as a forerunner to Deng’s Special Economic Zones.
Challenging the Hypothesis
It might be argued that there were more important economic turning points, for example the Self-Strengthening Movement – which tried to establish capitalism; the 1949 revolution and the arrival of Communism; and Deng Xiaoping’s reforms.
Answers might argue that Jiang’s and Soong’s attempts to develop a free market capitalist economy was only a continuation of previous developments under the Qing.
Answers might argue that the key economic issue in China was land ownership, and that Jiang’s attempts to deal with the problem were unconvincing, whereas the Communists made great change by ending private land ownership.
Answers might argue that the Self-Strengthening Movement foreshadowed much of the work of Jiang, developing modern forms of communication, arranging trade deals and loans with foreign powers and introducing joint stock companies.
Answers might argue that 1949 was a more important turning point as it saw the near-complete destruction of capitalism, and the creation of a new Communist economy that was different from anything previously.
Answers might argue that it was Deng Xiaoping’s reforms which modernised China’s economy most effectively – opening China’s trade with the rest of the world, encouraging foreign investment, and supporting the rise of an urban middle class of businessmen and entrepreneurs.
Answers might consider the continuing importance of the civil service and the bureaucracy throughout the period.