The Collapse of Nationalist China: How Chiang Kai-shek Lost China's Civil War

Abstract

This book review analyzes The Collapse of Nationalist China: How Chiang Kai-shek Lost China's Civil War by Parks M. Coble, which offers a new perspective on the downfall of Nationalist China under Chiang Kai-shek by focusing on its economic causes. Utilizing newly accessible archival sources, Coble ably argued that the inability of prudent decision-making and ignorance of Chiang Kai-shek when it comes to finance and banking outweigh the political, military, and diplomatic predicaments as the main catalyst for the failure of the Nationalist government. In addition, Coble stressed that squabbles and jealousy between Chiang’s brothers-in-law, T.V. Soong and H.H. Kung, which he personally fostered, worsened the already complex economic situation.  Ultimately, Coble’s detailed observations and interpretations have made it evident to its readers that the failure of the Nationalist China was a paradigmatic instance of centering too much political authority in an individual.