Chiang Kai-shek and Corporations: A Holistic Strategy

Abstract

This chapter explains that modern corporations empower individuals. Accordingly, incorporated companies enabled a build-up of economic power in post-imperial Republican Chinese society that would command the respect, friendship and envy of the Republican state. This led to the state, under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek, setting up the National Resource Commission (NRC) to capture more economic power from 1931 onwards. After winning the civil war over Chiang Kai-shek in 1949, the Communists took a more direct approach to capture economic power from society: once in government, they powered ahead with full nationalisation, abolishing all companies and corporations.