A Comparison Between Western and Chinese Political Ideas : The Difference and Complementarity of the Liberal-Democratic and Moral-Despotic Traditions

The polarities between the Chinese and Western political traditions are striking.

They contradict each other in their views of society and human nature, and in the importance allocated to law, morality and democracy.

This study argues that the best ideas of both traditions could be combined in a dialectical unity, a synthesis which would facilitate progress and human development.

While it is believed that China is more likely to adopt Western political ideas rather than the West to adopt Chinese political ideas, the author aims to show that some Chinese ideas are highly exportable when stripped of their Confucian language.

He also suggests that these ideas can be reconciled with liberal-democratic thinking and a free-market society.