Publications in the Federal Republic of Germany an Introductory Survey

PUBLICATIONS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY AN INTRODUCTORY SURVEY by Peter M. Kuhfus With the co-operation of G. Wacker The study of Republican China does not have the status of a separate discipline within the field of Sinology in the universities of the FRG. There exists neither a special academic center for Republican studies nor a journal comparable to Republican China. The study of Republican China--in its historical, political, sociological aspects--constitutes only one element within the regular academic context. Moreover, the relationship of Republican studies in the FRG and Chinese studies -in general can be illustrated by the example of the 29th Conference of the European Association of Chinese Studies (EACS), which convened in September 1984 in Tubingen. Out of a total of thirty-four papers presented, only five either touched upon or dealt exclusively with topics from the Republican period. Four of the papers in question were by non-German scholars: M. Bastid (Paris) (•Li Yuying (Li Shizeng, 1881-1973) et !'image de la France en Chine•), Leo Douw (Amsterdam) (•Non-Marxist Images and Analyses of Chinese Peasant Society during the Nanjing Decade, 1927-1937•), Lee Kuo-chi (Taipei} (•German Cultural Influence on China during the First Half of the 20th Century•) and Dai Yi (Beijing) (•Qing shi gao de bianzuan•).(1] The only contribution in the field of Republican studies from a German scholar was w. Lippert's (Erlangen) •The Comintern, the Chinese Communist Party and the Movement towards the Anti-Japanese United Front in China, 1935-1936.• Lippert analyzed the development from the •7th Congress of the Comintern (1935) to the Xi'an Incident (1936) on the basis of Russian, Chinese and Englishlanguage sources. His primary concern was the attitude of the Communists towards the Kuomintang: •From the analysis of documents it becomes obvious that there was little harmony between the Comintern and the CCP in regard to their approach to the United Front, rather that there existed a conflict of strategic interest.•[2)_ Lippert argues that while the Comintern, under the threat of German fascism and Japanese expansionism, favored a United Front in China from 1935 on, the principle aim of the CCP remained the fall of Chiang Kai-shek's Nanjing government. Thus, the CCP's appeals to Chiang to form an anti-Japanese alliance •proved to be only tactical maneuvers with little more than declamatory value.• This conflict of interests reached its climax and resolution in the Xi'an cr1s1s: •while the Communists thought the long desired opportunity to eliminate Chiang Kai-shek had come, Moscow advocated a 60 peace settlement of the incident and Chiang's release. pressure from Moscow the leaders of the CCP could do reluctantly agree to an arrangement with Chiang. Thus, paved for a United Front against Japan.•[)] Under massive nothing but the way was Though, as mentioned above, there is no special journal on Republican studies, there are various German-language periodicals in the field of Asian studies~-Asien, Bochumer Jahrbuch fur Ostasienforschung , China aktuell, Chinablatter, etc., providing lists of current publications and/or reports on focal points of research in university departments, research projects and conferences. There are also two special annual bibliographies which cover the field of Republican studies, amopg others: Bibliography of Chinese Studies. Selected Articles on China in Chinese, English and German,[4] and German Far East Bibliography, German Language Publications on East-, Central-, and Southeast Asia.[S] It is possible to obtain a complete overview of publications by German authors in the field of Republican China within the last decade from the bibliographies listed above; they are undoubtedly available in the USA. This article is therefore intended to introduce a few selected works, and does not claim completeness. Furthermore, it is planned to continue this survey •Republican Studies in the FRG• annually; works mentioned here can be included later.(6] Still within the category of bibliographies there is one especially noteworthy book which provides important bibliographical information of a peculiar quality: German Impact on Modern Chinese Intellectual History. A Bibliography of Chinese Publications,[7] edited by W. Bauer and Shen-chang Hwang. This compilation contains titles published between the late 19th century and 1976, with entries arranged according...