Overview

The first English-language study of Chinese scholars' perspectives on China's quest for democracy. History teaches us that profound transformations are not shaped by ideas alone but are impossible without great ideas. China is known to have a long history during which scholars played a central role in society while their ideas about politics prevailed. Democracy Through the Lens of Chinese Scholars explores six leading schools of thought—including liberalism, New Leftism, neo-Confucianism, democratic socialism, neo-authoritarianism, and good governance—on how to turn China into a democracy. Based on a wealth of primary sources and interview data, author He Li examines the Chinese theoretical debates on democracy from both historical and comparative perspectives. He demonstrates that the crux to understanding China's long march toward democracy lies in appreciating the interrelatedness and interplay of major strands of thought and brings rigor and insight to our understanding of China's leading school of political thought, shedding new light on non-Western political thought in general and comparative democratic theory in particular. Last but not least, the arguments here are a part of global efforts to rethink capitalism and democracy while focusing on liberty, justice, and the rule of law.

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Reviews

""This study provides a solid overview of the Chinese discourse on democracy and its ideational competitors. China's political trajectory is certainly affected by its debates on alternative political models. Hence, to understand China's past, present, and the future requires intimate understanding of the ideas that have shaped its political trajectories. Democracy Through the Lens of Chinese Scholars fulfills that role and therefore constitutes a major contribution to the study of Chinese politics."" — Baohui Zhang, Lingnan University, Hong Kong

""…Democracy Through the Lens of Chinese Scholars offers a structured and analytically grounded account of contemporary Chinese democratic thought. Li opens space for renewed engagement with comparative political theory, particularly regarding how democratic ideas acquire new meanings beyond their Western genealogies."" — Asian Studies Review ""This study provides a solid overview of the Chinese discourse on democracy and its ideational competitors. China's political trajectory is certainly affected by its debates on alternative political models. Hence, to understand China's past, present, and the future requires intimate understanding of the ideas that have shaped its political trajectories. Democracy Through the Lens of Chinese Scholars fulfills that role and therefore constitutes a major contribution to the study of Chinese politics."" — Baohui Zhang, Lingnan University, Hong Kong

Author Information

He Li is Professor of Political Science at Merrimack College. He is the author of Political Thought and China's Transformation: Ideas Shaping the Reform in Post-Mao China.

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