上海外国资本家与中日冲突之演变(1931-1932)

Foreign Capitalists and the Sino-Japanese Conflict in Shanghai from 1931 to 1932

20世纪30年代初,外国资本家已成为上海权势结构的组成部分。关于他们在中日冲突中的行为,世间流传着非黑即白的脸谱化认知。回归历史现场,他们的行为具有多歧性,其真实想法是渴望消弭抵货运动,维系特权。抗战不仅是民族国家的博弈,也是阶级的相互作用。外国资本家的集体意识,源于其双重社会存在。作为治外法权造就的贵族,他们为特权而欲打压中国群众运动;作为先觉的资产阶级,他们又将现代价值带给民众;而初觉的中国平民,发动抵货,戳中其软肋。恰如马克思所论,他们陷入困局,钱包、王冠不可兼得。民众继续抵货,他们不愿放弃其一,遂诉诸速战速决的武力。此相互作用,即中日冲突有限暴力化、有限损华化的社会根源之一。

In the early 1930s,foreign capitalists had become an integral part of the power structure in Shanghai.There have been simplistic and polarizing views about their behavior in the Sino-Japanese conflict.However,a closer examination of historical events reveals the complexity of their motives.Their true intention was to suppress the counter-foreign trade movement and maintain their privileges.The war of resistance was not only a national struggle,but also a class struggle.The collective consciousness of foreign capitalists was shaped by their dual social existence.As aristocrats nurtured by extraterritorial rights,they sought to suppress popular movements in China to protect their privileges.However,as the progressive bourgeoisie,they introduced modern values to the Chinese people.The popular counter-foreign trade movement in China exposed their vulnerability.As Marx argued,they found themselves caught in a dilemma,unable to enjoy both their wealth and power.The Chinese people continued to resist foreign trade,and they,in turn,resorted to the use of force to achieve their goals.This interaction was one of the social roots of the limited violence and harm that occurred during the Sino-Japanese conflict.