Causes of two civil Wars Flashcards
Point of comparison. How are the two wars/authoritarian states similar to different? Aims? Methods? Outcome? Link to question. Causation!
ECONOMICS
Economic turmoil was seen in both China and Spain
China –> exacerbated by foreign intervention. vs Spain –> economic struggle was a result of failed policies to combat the Great Depression
Evidence for economics
Patricia Knight – “backward economy” – lack of investment in agricultural to combat the Great Depression with less than 2% of the government budget being invested in agriculture whereas 25% in military in 1931. Renders perspective convincing as the Great Depression’s effect could not be reversed.
Fenby – “chronically unstable” – government printed money to fund the Sino-Japanese war so hyperinflation – cost of living in urban areas increased by 1500% from 1937 to 1945. From 1937-45, the exchange rate went from 1 USD:3.8 yuan to 1 USD:23,500 yuan.
Counter argument + evaluation
Economic
One could argue that economic turmoil only served to increased social to increase divisions and highlight instability, therefore it is not the primary factor.
However, remains unconvincing as, in the case of China, there was no weak political system to really overthrow, therefore can’t attribute war to political instability that arose due to economical turmoil. (Warlordism from 1911-49)
Economical turmoil in both China and Spain although stimulated by different factors, led to rising social discontent and created opposition to civil war thus rendering it the most important factor in causing both wars
Social Factors Comparison
Both Civil Wars were caused by socio-economic divisions between the rich and poor, however in the Spanish Civil War, religion played a key role in exacerbating social division, while the same cannot be said for China.
Evidence for Social Factors
China:
Rana Mitter – socio-economic tensions fostered social division, resulting in rural unrest which meant they supported Mao.
10% of China –> 90% of the wealth.
Paul Preston - long lasting social instability.
A result of failed policies though – male population elected the parliament (cortes) which was dominated by wealthy oligarchs – as government susceptible to corruption.
Rabasseire – ‘parasites’ (privileged classes) – draws parallels with China.
Spaniards made up working population, with 3 million ‘parasites’ and middle-class. Similar to China: 80% of population worked in agriculture vs 70% in Spain
Counter + Evaluation for Social Factors
Religion – China – although Chiang was Christian, China was dominantly secular therefore religion did not foster social division
Spain – religion exacerbated division as goals of the Church were heavily intertwined with the goals of the upper class and the aristocracy – Preston, the Catholic Church was ‘overwhelmingly supportive of the Nationalists’
Social division was clearly present, and thus played a role in causing both wars. Whilst, social divisions played a greater role in Spain due to influence of religion, fundamentally, these divisions would not have been established without economic/wealth disparities.
Therefore, it was instead economic factors which established social divisions, which were intensified because of a lack of change from the government.
Political instability comparison
Political instability was similar with both countries birthing militarised politics after long term decentralised control. However, while in China violence was the only means of gaining control, in Spain, political authority would be challenged
Evidence of Political Instability
Jonathan Spence – ‘failures of militaristic rule’ – in China, Jiang Jieshi led the GMD having come from the Huangpo military academy. Similarly in Spain, Primo de Rivera was a right-wing military leader who led a coup in 1925, military dictatorship until 1925 characterised by authoritarianism. 43 military interventions in Spanish politics from 1814-1923. Rise of caciquismo who perpetuated militaristic mob-boss rule to consolidate power in cities (illegitimate)
Antony Beever – ‘anti-establishment sentiment’ grew – decentralisation of power with Chinese warlords + Spanish caciques. It was this long term dissatisfaction that built up in peasant populations that fostered rise of left-leaning CCP + Republicans. Political weakness fueled the ideological polarisation of the Civil Wars.
Counter argument and evaluation for political instability
While Spain had failed ‘turnismo’ politics, GMD was only legitimate power, so violence by CCP was the only way.
Spain – left using Azana reforms (1931-33) and right wing Bienio Negro (1934-36) failed to install concrete reforms
China – lack of democratic political system was especially crucial in the CCP resulting to civil war to gain power
Both China and Spain similarly saw the long-term trend of decentralised and military politics that facilitated the rise of progressive opposition that challenged the institutional power in Civil War.
