Zhou Fohai (1897–1948) helped found the CCP but left the party in 1924 and aligned himself with the GMD. He then became one of the GMD’s leading theoretical writers and was the editor of the monthly Xin shengming. Zhou had earlier contributed to Xin qingnian, and, in an article published in 1922, voiced the opinion that freedom of speech and association should not be given to the bourgeoisie since they then could use these freedoms to thwart the revolution. Although Zhou in 1922 was a supporter of the CCP, and by 1928, when the article excerpted here was published, a theoretician of the GMD, his opinion on the need to restrict certain people’s rights and freedoms did not change. Zhou argued against the idea of natural rights because it implied that all people, by virtue of their being human, would enjoy rights. The idea of “revolutionary people’s rights” as advocated by the GMD, on the other hand, ensured that only those loyal to the revolution could exercise political rights.
Last updated:
This page copyright © 2001 by Stephen C. Angle and Marina Svensson, and M.E. Sharpe, Inc. Permission is hereby granted for all non-commercial uses of these materials.