Which fascism? Historicizing Chiang Kai-shek’s engagements with the idea during the Nanjing Decade, 1927–37

Scholarship on fascism during interwar China has hitherto focused on the 'Blue Shirt Society' and the 'CC Clique', two Guomindang (GMD) right-wing cliques loyal to their patron Chiang Kai-shek. So far the Generalissimo's own perceptions and agendas with fascism have been shrouded in myth, probably due to his evasive attitude and the availability of sources. Scholars dealing with the topic have also tended to delineate a peculiar variant of 'Chinese Fascism' by drawing on various theories of fascism. This article proposes an alternative approach inspired by transnational fascism-rather than seeing it as an analytical tool, it treats fascism as a highly malleable concept. Focusing on Chiang Kai-shek, the article historicizes his evolving engagements (perception, interaction, appropriation, etc.) with the idea during the Nanjing Decade by diving into critical primary sources, in particular the Diplomatic and Historical Archives of Foreign Ministry in Rome (ASDMAE), the Chiang Kai-shek Archives at Academia Historica (Guoshiguan) in Taipei, Chiang's diary and writings, among others. It shows that rather than a fixed view, Chiang's engagements with the idea during the period underwent a process of changes as situation and relevance of fascism evolved. It thus intends to contribute to the topic both empirically and methodologically.