Incompetence of Existing Government Contributed Greatly t Essay Example

mismanagement of both regimes. This led to a loss of support from social classes that were previously loyal, which in turn fueled overall discontent and increased the desire for change. The incompetence of both PG and GMD governments prevented effective reforms and contributed to the outbreak of revolution. The PG's focus on maintaining power resulted in little change from the previous Tsarist regime, with landlords charging high rents and excessive taxation oppressing peasants. Despite being vital to maintaining government stability, peasants were abused and faced harsh working and living conditions, including mass whippings to squeeze redemption payments.The PG experienced discontent when peasants seized three-fifths of rural pastures in June and July 1917 due to the lack of action on land reform. Russians were also dissatisfied with the scarcity of food and supplies, despite promises made by the PG. In China, a similar situation occurred, where the government aimed to maintain power and its “comfortable and profitable positions” rather than implementing land reform. Additionally, numerous new taxes were introduced, including the kettle tax, grain transport tax, roof tax, and road maintenance tax. The Chinese populace struggled with food shortages as some were forced to resort to eating tree bark. Moreover, peasants in China were terrorized by brutal warlords such as Zhang Zongzhang, who derived pleasure from causing terror among the population.The GMD in China dissolved workers unions, such as the Chinese League for the protection of Civil Rights, and restricted the formation of others unless they were heavily controlled by the government. This resulted in increasing discontent towards the GMD. Similarly, in Russia, discontent among peasants, workers, merchants, and landlords led to revolution due to a

lack of reform in land and improved conditions. Additionally, the GMD took out loans to finance their party instead of promoting industrial and economic growth, further hindering progress in China. The incompetence of both the PG and GMD in their handling of WWI and WWII created discontent and contributed to the outbreak of revolution. This made their hold on power questionable.Initially, Kerensky in Russia benefited from the patriotism of the people in February. Even the returned Bolshevik Joseph Stalin wrote in 'Pravda' that "the free people will stand firmly at their posts, will reply bullet for bullet and shell for shell... the war will continue." However, soon after, the Bolsheviks withdrew their support for the war while the Provisional Government did not. Chiang Kai-shek also saw the benefits of patriotism as a reaction to the Japanese invasion in China. However, his inaction caused discontent among the masses. Both countries' situations differed as the primary effects of the war were not visible in Russia, and people were only experiencing a lack of food and supplies. On the other hand, the Japanese invasion was spreading in China, with major cities being taken. This made the issue of war more real in China than it was in Russia. As a result, the GMD's inaction and Chiang's plan to "sell space to buy time," combined with the contrasting views of communists to retaliate, triggered a shift in support from residing in the government to an external revolutionary group.

Both Russia and China saw the rise of two revolutionary groups, namely the Bolsheviks and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which capitalized on the discontent generated by their respective governments' incompetence

and its contribution to the outbreak of revolution. Both groups were able to harness the growing discontent among citizens resulting from poor living conditions created by the incompetence of the Provisional Government (PG) in Russia and the Nationalist Party (GMD) in China.

As discontent grew due to the government's inability to address issues, both groups were able to increase their support base and army size tremendously. From 1937 to 1945, the CCP was able to increase its influence and control in China from 1.5 million to 90 million, while its 'Red Army' grew from 80,000 to 900,000. (Lynch) However, despite their similarities in harnessing discontent, these two communist groups had fundamental differences that set them apart.

Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik party, focused on a union-based revolution in cities by gaining the support of disgruntled workers. Mao Zedong, on the other hand, sought to gain the support of rural peasants who comprised over 80% of China's population and were often mistreated and neglected. Both groups were similar as they were believed to be the real protectors of their countries.

The Kornilov Revolt in Russia and the kidnapping of Chiang by the CCP in China exemplify the roles of patriotism and revolutionary groups in times of political unrest. The Bolsheviks are credited with averting a rightwing coup in Russia, ultimately discrediting the Provisional government. Similarly, the CCP's kidnapping of Chiang was aimed at creating a second United Front for the benefit of the people and establishing themselves as the "true combatants against the Japanese." While incompetence alone does not cause revolutions, pre-existing issues such as poor economic health and

living standards are exacerbated by the government's inability to address specific issues like inflation and land reform, resulting in disillusionment and discontent. Revolutionary groups such as the Bolsheviks and CCP offer a solution to this discontent, harnessing the people's dissatisfaction towards revolution.

Despite having opposing viewpoints on some matters, the Bolsheviks and Chinese Communist Party shared a common ground in their support for the people's demand for change. This demand arose from numerous failures and problems resulting from the ineptitude of the Provisional Government (PG) and the Guomindang (GMD). The Bolsheviks managed to launch a swift revolution that took merely seven months to complete, in contrast to the CCP's gradual and ideology-packed revolution spanning over two decades. Nevertheless, the desire for change was a fundamental driver for both uprisings, irrespective of support for the revolutionary party's ideology. The discontent stemming from government inaction and incompetence fuelled this yearning for change, leading to disillusionment with those in power, and ultimately triggering a revolution. Incompetence hampered these governments' abilities to address their constituents' issues, leaving revolution as the only solution.