Learning to Rebel: Modern Schools and the Making of Revolutionaries in Early 20th Century China

• In Event: Revolutionary Dynamics: Shaping Political Development in Modern China

Abstract

The creation and expansion of a modern education system is an integral step in many societies’ quest for modernity, yet the political implications of educational modernization remain debated. While much scholarship has viewed the primary and secondary schools as a tool for political indoctrination by the state, we argue that in a context of weak state control and limited employment opportunities, modern schools can also become breeding grounds for revolution. We test this argument using newly digitized nationwide data on modern school and revolutionary events in early 20th century China. Our analysis reveals that early participants in the communist revolution were disproportionately drawn from localities with a high density of modern-style middle and normal schools. We also find that the effect of radicalization was particularly salient when the school principals were themselves veterans from the preceding 1911 Revolution. These findings underscore the role of educational institutions in fostering and perpetuating radical aspirations across generations.

Authors

• Xingchen Lan, New York University

• Xiaohong Yu