Reflections on the Warlord Period in China (1916–1931)

Abstract

The Warlord Period, generally dated between 1916 and 1931, was marked by political fragmentation and instability in China. After the defeat of traditionalist forces in China, 3,000 years of imperial monarchical tradition came to an end, and a republic was established in its place for the first time—initially with the success of the Xinhai Revolution in 1911 and later with the collapse of the brief attempt to restore the monarchy in 1916, sponsored by Yuan Shikai, a former military officer of the old Qing dynasty. This led to a period of divisions within China, in which the existing political forces and tendencies became immersed in a dynamic of prolonged conflicts. Ultimately, the Kuomintang, regarded as the most modern of these political tendencies, managed to prevail over other political projects, such as those of the warlords, who competed for the reunification of China. The objective of this research is to accurately describe the general and particular characteristics of the Warlord Period in China. By understanding its essential features, it will be possible to develop a reflection that contributes to a better understanding of this historical period.