Online published on 29 November, 2012.
Many are wondering, all over the world, where China is going? Will the PRC continue its lightning rise to the top of the international system or Will it fall a victim to social implosion? Will there be a “Chinese Spring”? The underlying Confucian moral and political culture may enshrine an answer to that question. That philosophy sees a strong but just state as a “necessary good”, whose role it is to shape and improve the individual and lead the nation. In practice it translates into mechanisms for consultative democracy and puts priority on merit and competence. Confucianism eyes Western style democracy with suspicion bordering on contempt because of its emphasis on conflict and competition rather than harmony. However, China is now undermined by corruption among the power elites and needs to revive an uplifting moral humanistic vision to inspire its people and mankind at large
