Chinese Utopianism: A Comparative Study of Reformist Thought with Japan and Russia, 1898-1997

Chinese Utopianism offers a new explanation of extreme radicalism in Chinese reform movements from the late nineteenth century through the Cultural Revolution and into the post-Mao era. By studying comparable Japanese and Russian reforms that have, in contrast, pulled their societies back toward the center, Shiping Hua demonstrates how datong—an ancient concept that can be translated as “great harmony”—and other elements of Chinese thought have led China down a unique political path.

Shiping Hua is professor of political science at the University of Louisville.

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. Theory and Method

2. Utopianism: Japan, Russia, and China

3. Modernizing Reforms: Japan and China

4. Reforms within Communism: The Soviet Union

5. Reforms within Communism: China

6. Reforms Out of Communism: China and the Soviet Union

Conclusion: Human Hopefulness toward the Future as Natural, Supernatural, and the Product of Human Endeavor

“I commend the author for a brave attempt to bring a comparative perspective to the fairly parochial field of Chinese studies. I would recommend the book for students interested in Chinese utopianism. It could be an interesting springboard for critical discussion.”—Viren Murthy, China Review International

“Shiping Hua’s new book on Chinese utopianism fills an important gap in Chinese political culture studies and is a good reference book on Chinese political culture.”—Baogang Guo, International Review of Social History

“Shiping Hua argues that cultural factors can help explain why, under similar circumstances, the leaders of different countries undertake different strategies … [T]his book is a very interesting and insightful contribution to the fields of Chinese political culture and comparative political thought.”—Grace Cheng, Journal of Chinese Political Science

“[Chinese Utopianism] would be well suited to interdisciplinary courses in social sciences and humanities. All readers will benefit from the challenging views and insightful analysis it presents.”—Patrick Fuliang Shan, American Review of China Studies

“Even readers skeptical of the political culture approach will find this book useful.”—John A. Rapp, The China Journal

“Hua conducts an ambitious comparative study of the influence of different strands of utopianism on political reform movements in China, Japan, and Russia … His argument is elegant and easy to follow.”—T. E. Myers, Choice

“It is hard to imagine a reader who would not find stimulating both the ideas and the range of material cited in Chinese Utopianism. Shiping Hua should be congratulated for taking on the grand themes of continuity and cultural difference. The result is a unique examination of modern Chinese political culture and its traditional roots.”—Brantly Womack, University of Virginia

“The value and novelty of Chinese Utopianism lie in it synthesis of the cases compared. Hua’s overall thesis that there is a prospensity toward utopianism in Chinese political culture not shared by either Japan or Russia is an original take, and will likely provoke important discussion and debate.”—Peter Moody, University of Notre Dame