Examine the contribution of the New Culture Movement and the effects of warlordism to the rise of national identity in China.

Candidates will consider the interrelationship between the effects of warlordism and the New Culture Movement on the rise of national identity in China. Candidates may offer equal coverage of the effects of warlordism and the New Culture Movement, or they may prioritize their examination of one of them. However, both aspects will be a feature of the response. Candidates may discuss how the death of Yuan Shikai left a power vacuum, marking the start of the warlord era. This resulted in chaos and anarchy which led to the unchecked development of nationalist feelings in China in response to the disunity and disorder. Some progressive warlords also disseminated nationalistic and patriotic ideas, furthering the emergence of a Chinese national identity. The New Culture Movement also arose from the failure of the 1912 Republic and the later humiliation of Versailles. The movement challenged elements of Chinese tradition such as Confucianism, patriarchy and classical literature, while promoting democracy and liberalism. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

This was a very popular question. Candidates were required to consider the interrelationship between the effects of warlordism and the New Culture Movement on the rise of national identity in China. Responses varied greatly in quality. There were some excellent responses which contained in-depth knowledge of both warlordism and the New Culture Movement. However, some candidates struggled to demonstrate knowledge of one or both of the factors named in the question although they did seem to comprehend the rise of national identity in China in a more generic sense. Candidates need to ensure they have knowledge of all the bullet points in the guide.