A Comparative Study of the Old and New Guangxi Cliques during the Republic of China
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71222/hdmxtn94Keywords:
Guangxi Clique, warlordism, Republican China, regional militarismAbstract
This article offers a comparative overview of the Old and New Guangxi Cliques, two successive but fundamentally different forms of regional militarism in Republican China. While both cliques shared the basic characteristics of warlordism-territorial autonomy and the preservation of military strength-their organizational structures, leadership composition, and political orientations diverged significantly. By following the chronological development of each clique, the study highlights how the Old Guangxi Clique's fragmented, parochial power base contributed to its rapid collapse, whereas the New Guangxi Clique, shaped by modern military training and strategic engagement with national politics, rose to prominence and played a sustained role in major historical events. This comparison illustrates the internal diversity of warlordism and clarifies why the New Guangxi Clique became a more coherent and nationally influential force.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Yumu Liu (Author)
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