An Objective Evaluation of Political Meaning and Legitimacy of Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist Government in Nanking’s Public City Construction (1927-1937)

A number of scholars studying modern Chinese history have mentioned the peace-ful decade in Nanking City from 1927 to 1937. This period is widely acknowledged as the "golden decade of Nanking" under the governance of Chiang Kai-shek's Na-tionalist government. During the decade, several remarkable public constructions were initiated and completed, such as the Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum, among others. These projects showcased Chiang Kai-shek's inspiration and determination to build an "exemplary capital". Notwithstanding previous research in the golden decade that highlighted the significant construction achievements in various facets of Nan-king, the study of governmental legitimacy from the perspective of public construction is groundbreaking. Therefore, the study aims to uncover how public construction under governmental leadership has impacted governmental legitimacy. The paper will illustrate the definition and evaluation methods of the concept of legitimacy, as well as explore the potential development conditions before 1927 in Nan-king. There are five perspectives to assess governmental legitimacy: 1) Urban Planning, 2) Education, 3) Large-scale infrastructure construction, 4) Legal system development, and 5) Park construction. The innovative study contributes to scholars expanding their insightful research on harnessing the concept of legitimacy and other political theories during the Republic of China or other historical periods.