Most of us would probably agree that democracy is one of the most important goals of modernization in modern China. As the philosophical foundation of democracy, Western liberalism has been introduced to China since the late Qing dynasty, and especially after the May Fourth movement, it became one of the two predominant political ideologies (the other undoubtedly being Marxism), which pushed the political development of modern China. However, despite of the long period of engaging with liberalism, Chinese conceptions of liberty and democracy seem to be full of ambiguities. Just as some scholars pointed out, the ambiguities result either from interpretations within a Chinese traditional cultural context, or from the practical needs of the search for wealth and power.
In this course, we will introduce and explore modern Chinese conceptions of democracy and liberty through interpreting the thoughts of major thinkers such as K’ang Yu-wei , Yen Fu, Liang Ch’i-ch’ao, Sun Yat-sen, Hu Shih, Carsun Chang and Yin Hai-kuang. In addition to a general introduction to these liberal thinkers respectively, our course will focus on the clarification of the ambiguities in their conceptions of liberty and democracy, and make further explanations of the related significance in the development of liberalism in modern China.
Rooster
Second semester, two hours per week. See time table for time and location.
Onderwijsvorm
Seminar
Leerdoelen
The present course aims to introduce modern Chinese conceptions and ideas of liberal democracy. Through the lectures of exploring and analyzing the thoughts of major modern Chinese liberal thinkers, successfully participating students will acquire a deeper understanding of liberalism in modern China.
*Students will learn how to critically read academic articles; *Students will receive training in the formulation and presentation of an academic argument.
Literatuur
*Bell, Daniel A. East Meets West: Human Rights and Democracy in East Asia. Princeton: Priceton University Press, 2000. *Briere, O. Fifty Years of Chinese Philosophy 1898-1950. trans. Lawrence G. Thompson. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press 1979. *Chang, Carsun. The Third Force in China. New York: Bookman Associates, 1952. *Chang, Hao. Liang Ch’i-ch’ao and Intellectual Transition in China, 1890-1907. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1971. *Chang, Hao. Chinese Intellectuals in Crisis: Search for Order and Meaning, 1890-1911. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press, 1987. *Chow, Tse-Tsung. The May Fourth Movement: Intellectual Revolution in Modern China. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1960. *De Bary, Wm Theodore. Asian Values and Human Rights: A Confucian Communitarian Perspective. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1998. *Grieder, Jerome B. Hu Shih and the Chinese Renaissance: Liberalism in the Chinese Revolution, 1917-1937. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1970. *Hsiao, Kung-chuan. A Modern China and A New World: K’ang Yu-Wei, Reformer and Utopian, 1858-1927. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1975. *Huang, Philip C. L_iang Chi-Ch’ao and Modern Chinese Liberalism_. Seattle: University of Washington, 1972. *Kymlicka, Will. _Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Intro_duction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2nd ed., 2002. *Levenson, Joseph R. Liang Ch’i-ch’ao and the Mind of Modern China. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1965. *Lin, Yü-sheng. The Crisis of Chinese Consciousness: Radical Antitraditionalism in the May Fourth Era. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1979. *Lo, Jung-pang(ed.). K’ang Yu-wei: A Biography and A Symposium. Tucson: The University of Arizona Press, 1967. *Russell, Bertrand. The Problem of China. London: Allen & Unwin, 1966. *Schwartz, Benjamin. In Search of Wealth and Power: Yen Fu and The West. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1964. *Wang, Y. C. Chinese Intellectuals and the West, 1872-1949. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1966. *Watkins, Frederick. The Political Tradition of Liberalism. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1966. *Wilbur, C. Martin. Sun Yat-sen: Frustrated Patriot. New York: Columbia University Press, 1976.
Toetsing
*Participation and written assignment (20%) *Oral presentation on a self chosen topic (either a liberal thinker or one aspect of liberalism, 30%), *Term paper (50%). The term paper should be written in English or Chinese.
Note: Do not copy any passage from books or articles without properly citing the reference where it was taken from.
Informatie
Enrollment
Enroll on time for this course via U-twist. Niet ingeschreven, betekent geen toestemming tot het volgen van dit college. Zie ook ‘Aanmeldprocedures voor colleges en tentamens’ voor inschrijvingsdeadlines en meer informatie over in- en uitschrijven voor colleges.
Overzicht
*Introduction *The prelude : “ Reform vs. Revolution” in the late Qing *K’ang Yu-wei on liberal democracy from a Confucian perspective *Yen Fu’s ideas of liberty and democracy *Liang Ch’i-ch’ao and modern Chinese liberalism *Sun Yat-sen’s conception of liberal democracy *Hu Shih on individualism and antitraditionalism *Carsun Chang on liberalism, Confucianism and democratic socialism *Yin Hai-kuang and the development of liberalism in postwar Taiwan *Epilogue: concluding remarks
11-13. Oral presentations