ABSTRACT
Under Hu Jintao’s leadership, China is constructing a ‘‘harmonious
society,’’ and almost everyone is on board. Certain intellectual factions in
China have queued up behind Hu’s vision. It is a broad vision, and broadly
popular too, playing strongly to Chinese (not just mainland) pride. This is
to be the Chinese century, in which China emerges as a benevolent world
leader, and China’s cultural legacy, particularly its (updated) Confucian
heritage, is to play a large part in pioneering a responsible, egalitarian path
towards modernization and development – a grail-like ‘‘third way’’ between or simply beyond capitalism and socialism pursued as antagonistic ideolo-
gical manias. Henceforth, China’s development and its example to the world
would be characterized by a Confucian-enviro-humanitarian ethic that is
anti-corruption and pro-growth, and directed by the Party’s strong
(strengthened, in fact) central authority. Economic growth would still be
market-driven, but restrained and conditioned by socially egalitarian,
environmentally sound state planning and policy directives.
