This article expresses similar sentiments to those expressed by you in "The Confucian Renaissance".

You claim that China will develop "an elite and responsible administrative class." But you do not explain how Confucian ethics incorporates any checks and balances; how in the absence of some form of constitutionalism China will cope with ethnic diversity or how this proposed "elite" will remain elite without suppression of the masses.
Incidentally, it is a little cavalier to claim that China has had an unbroken civilisation. It ignores the disruption of the Cultural Revolution and the fact that the Leninism that is applauded by the Chinese elite could hardly be more Western. A response would be appreciated.

The Author said:

>>China’s socialism is providing the model that offers hope for people in diverse parts of the world.<<

R U SERIOUS ? no really.. r u ?

Where...does one find 'socialism' in CAPITALIST China today ?

Does one find it in the massive mistreatment of people whos villages are inconviently 'in the way' of some factory a party member wishes to have constructed so his extended family can benefit from it ?

Or is it in the persecution of the religious minorities.. the bashings.. the jailings..

or is it in the selling of body parts, organs of the executed...

Or in the executions which maybe take place to fill the current 'order' for paricular organs ?

Hmmm..perhaps we find it in the ARTIFICIALLY low cost of labor, and the OPPRESSION of the working classes by the CAPITALIST lords who stamp out any organized labor who might raise the cost of labor by providing a LIVING wage to them ?

Is it in the FROWN and abuse and warnings the Chinese aim at anyone who supports independance for Tibet ?

No..sorry..if this is the model you want people to follow, we need to send YOU off to a detention centre/re-education camp with hard labor for the rest of your days Reg. (or until you recant this political heresy)

Seneca

Thanks to the opportunity to comment. The Confucian Renaissance predicted the rise of China 18 years ago when that was still an unfashionable view, based on the efficacy of Confucian values within a global order created by Anglo-American power.

A Confucian-Daoist Millennium? (2006) has explored that theme further. Sadly, neither Greco-Roman intellectual certainties nor conemporary media disinformation are likely to have much impact on the Confucian-Daoist energies and strategic wisdom that are highlighting the limits of contemporary Anglo-American power and understanding.

I would comment further but am in China, having just visited a model (poor) village, which recruits teachers from all over East and South East Asia to educate students from all over China in Confucian values of filial piety. This is the work at his birthplace of a Chinese born, Taiwan educated, dual Australian/American citizen Buddhist Monk.

With warm regards

Reg

what a looney tune.

the remaining socialist enterprises share only a few characteristics: corruption, inefficiency, monstrous debts propped up by forced loans.

the capitalist activities on the other hand are generally thriving. they are also characterized by corruption, pollution, expropriation of common lands, and oppression of the workforce.

the fact that china is none the less gaining on the west says more about the inability of capitalism to thrive without a growing market. this fundamental flaw will ultimately hobble china also. for now, they are a rickety bicycle staying upright only while they can maintain speed. the western bicycle has slowed, and is beginning to wobble, because it's running out of road.

Which economic system appears to be superior very much depends on what aspects you analyse and what values you use.

For example, using economic analysis you could say that economically China is booming and will overtake the West. However, when you introduce normative analysis and a set of values (say individual freedom and human rights), you could say that China is booming, but not without human and social costs.

Overall an interesting article that challenges the traditional views of Orientalism, which is almost extinct anyway.

Cheers

Josh

Reg,

Thank you.

I would like to continue the dialogue when you return from China.

It seems to me that Confucian ethics are suitable for a gemeinschaft in the sense used by Tonnies but not for a gesellschaft as there is no concept of civil society with its implicit notions of individual freedom, ownership of private property and most importantly separation of powers with an independent judiciary.