China's New Confucianism

by Bell, Daniel A.

• ISBN13: 9780691136905
• ISBN10: 0691136904
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-04-07
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Summary

What is it like to be a Westerner teaching political philosophy in an officially Marxist state? Why do Chinese sex workers sing karaoke with their customers? And why do some Communist Party cadres get promoted if they care for their elderly parents? In this entertaining and illuminating book, one of the few Westerners to teach at a Chinese university draws on his personal experiences to paint an unexpected portrait of a society undergoing faster and more sweeping changes than anywhere else on earth. With a storyteller's eye for detail, Daniel Bell observes the rituals, routines, and tensions of daily life in China.China's New Confucianismmakes the case that as the nation retreats from communism, it is embracing a new Confucianism that offers a compelling alternative to Western liberalism. Bell provides an insider's account of Chinese culture and, along the way, debunks a variety of stereotypes. He presents the startling argument that Confucian social hierarchy can actuallycontributeto economic equality in China. He covers such diverse social topics as sex, sports, and the treatment of domestic workers. He considers the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, wondering whether Chinese overcompetitiveness might be tempered by Confucian civility. And he looks at education in China, showing the ways Confucianism impacts his role as a political theorist and teacher. By examining the challenges that arise as China adapts ancient values to contemporary society,China's New Confucianismenriches the dialogue of possibilities available to this rapidly evolving nation.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction	p. xiii
Politics	p. 1
From Communism to Confucianism: Changing Discourses on China's Political Future	p. 3
War, Peace, and China's Soft Power	p. 19
Hierarchical Rituals for Egalitarian Societies	p. 38
Society	p. 57
Sex, Singing, and Civility: The Costs and Benefi ts of the Karaoke Trade	p. 59
How Should Employers Treat Domestic Workers?	p. 75
The Politics of Sports: From the 2006 World Cup to the 2008 Olympics	p. 91
Education	p. 105
A Critique of Critical Thinking	p. 107
Teaching Political Theory in Beijing	p. 128
On Being Confucian: Why Confucians Needn't Be Old, Serious, and Conservative	p. 148
Appendices
Depoliticizing the Analects	p. 163
Jiang Qing's Political Confucianism 175
Index	p. 231
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