China's New Confucianism

Politics and Everyday Life in a Changing Society (New in Paper)
2. Revised Auflage 2010
ISBN: 978-0-691-14585-3
Verlag: Princeton University Press

Buch, Englisch, 280 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 389 g

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 Confucianism makes 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 actually contribute to 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 Confucianism enriches the dialogue of possibilities available to this rapidly evolving nation. In a new preface, Bell discusses the challenges of promoting Confucianism in China and the West.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bell, Daniel A

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Nicht-Westliche Philosophie Indische & Asiatische Philosophie
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Kultur Politik & Religion, Religionsfreiheit
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Theorie, Politische Philosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Asiatische Geschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Sonstige Religionen Östliche Religionen Konfuzianismus
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Sozialphilosophie, Politische Philosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Religion & Politik, Religionsfreiheit

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface to the Paperback Edition ix
Acknowledgments xxiii
Introduction xxvii
Part One: Politics 1
Part 1: From Communism to Confucianism: Changing Discourses on China's Political Future 3
Part 2: War, Peace, and China's Soft Power 19
Part 3: Hierarchical Rituals for Egalitarian Societies 38
Part Two: Society 57
Part 4: Sex, Singing, and Civility: The Costs and Benefits of the Karaoke Trade 59
Part 5: How Should Employers Treat Domestic Workers? 75
Part 6: The Politics of Sports: From the 2006 World Cup to the 2008 Olympics 91
Part Three: Education 105
Part 7: A Critique of Critical Thinking 107
Part 8: Teaching Political Theory in Beijing 128
Part 9: On Being Confucian: Why Confucians Needn't Be Old, Serious, and Conservative 148
Appendices
Part 1: Depoliticizing the Analects 163
Part 2: Jiang Qing's Politi cal Confucianism 175
Index 231

Über Autor(innen)

Bell, Daniel A
Daniel A. Bell is professor of political theory at Tsinghua University in Beijing. His books include "Beyond Liberal Democracy" and "East Meets West" (both Princeton).