A Pragmatic Experiment of Rural Construction Movement: The Self-Government of Wanxi in Southwestern Henan, 1930 -1940

Abstract

Wanxi is located in the southwestern part of todaya??s Henan province of China. From 1930 to 1940, there was a local self-government, which was led by local elites. This thesis discusses this historical event from two perspectives. One is from the central-local relationship, and the other is from the a??local state buildinga??, or rural reconstruction. Consequently, this thesis argues that the local self-government of Wanxi had two-fold significance for modern Chinese history study. First, it could be regarded as a vivid case of Guomindanga??s failure in extending the state power to the rural society. Second, the local self-government of Wanxi was one successful rural reconstruction experiment in the 1930s.