Semi-Governmentalism: The Guild Socialists’ Reform Proposals in the Socialist Debates

Zhou Yuefeng (Sichuan University)

Time: 08 July 2025 (Tuesday), 16:00–18:00

Room: VG 2.105

Language: Chinese

Abstract:

Originating in Britain, Guild Socialism was one strand of socialist thought that gained popularity in China during the May Fourth period and served as an important intellectual resource for addressing the political situation of the time. Those influenced by it actively participated in the debates on socialism. However, existing research has largely portrayed them as opponents of Marxism, emphasizing their non-communist stance while overlooking their broader vision for societal reform. In response to the emerging discourse surrounding the ideas of a “strong government” and a “good government” in the public sphere during the socialist debates, figures influenced by Guild Socialism—such as Zhang Dongsun, Lan Gongwu, Xu Liuji, and Guo Mengliang—voiced sustained opposition. They not only rejected early communists’ proposals to achieve socialism through a strong state, but also remained wary of idealized conceptions of an “omnipotent” or “benevolent” government. Instead, they advocated for a gradual strengthening of social forces and the balance of state power through a combination of occupational and regional self-governance. Their ultimate goal was a “semi-government” or a “dual-government” model—an ideal of minimal government. Yet, within an era that favored immediate action, this gradualist, society-oriented socialism was often dismissed as non-socialist or even anti-socialist. Ironically, it was the socialism advocating for a strong state that became recognized as the “orthodox” form of socialism.

Bio: Prof. Dr. Zhou Yuefeng holds a Professorship in Chinese History at Sichuan University. He is the author of Alternative New Culture Movement: The Cultural Activities of Liang Qichao’s Circle and the Intellectuals around the May Fourth Movement (Peking University Press, 2023). He has published articles on Modern Chinese intellectual history in  peer-reviewed journals, including Historical Research, Modern Chinese History Studies, Bulletin of the Institute of Modern History Academia Sinica, Journal of Tsinghua University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), etc. He serves as the vice president of Sun Yat-Sen Research Association and the vice chief director of “Data Platform of Chinese Modern history”. He is also an elected member of the “Centre for the Study of Modern Chinese Thought” at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

半政府主义：社会主义论战中基尔特主义者的改造构想

周月峰（四川大学历史文化学院）

时间：2025年7月8日（星期二），16:00–18:00

地点：VG 2.105

语言：中文

摘要：起源于英国的基尔特社会主义是社会主义流派之一，曾在五四时期流行于中国，成为时人应对时局的重要思想资源。受其影响者曾深度参与社会主义论战，然而既有研究多将其视为马克思主义的对立者，看到的多是其非共产主义的面相，而忽视他们应对时局的整体构想。面对社会主义论战前后舆论界新兴的“强政府”与“好政府”思潮，当时受基尔特社会主义影响的张东荪、蓝公武、徐六几、郭梦良等人曾有持续反对。他们不仅反对早期共产主义者以“强政府”为手段实现社会主义的主张，在理想国家形态上也警惕“万能政府”、“好政府”的设想，而是希望通过逐渐发展社会力量，以职业自治与区域自治相结合的方式制衡政府，最终实现“半政府”、“两个政府”的小政府理想。然而，在当时倾向立刻行动的时代思潮中，这一倾向“社会”的渐进式社会主义，被视为了非社会主义或反社会主义，反而是主张“强政府”的社会主义，成了社会主义的“正统”。

简介：周月峰教授现任四川大学中国历史教授，著有《另一场新文化运动：五四前后“梁启超系”再造新文明的努力》（北京大学出版社，2023）。他在《历史研究》、《近代史研究》、《中央研究院近代史研究所集刊》、《清华大学学报（哲学社会科学版）》等同行评审期刊发表多篇关于中国近代思想史的学术论文。现任孙中山研究会副会长、“中国近代史数据平台”副主任，同时也是中国社会科学院“近代中国思想研究中心”特邀研究员。