Politics & Governance / Political Philosophy & Theory / State & Sovereignty

Deconstructing Tianchao ism -Statism with Chinese Characteristics: A Literature Review and Context

Statism with Chinese Characteristics: A Literature Review and Contextual Analysis of Celestial Empireism This article systematically sorts out the "Celestial Empireism" trend that emerged in Chinese academia in the early 21st century, viewing it as a highly politically ambitious version 2.0 of statism. The author points out that the arguments represented by scholars such as Gan Yang, Liu Xiaofeng, and Qiang Shigong aim to forcibly stitch together the classical Confucian tradition, the revolutionary legacy of the Mao Zedong era, and the reform practices of the Deng Xiaoping period through the methodology of "integrating the three traditions," thereby justifying the historical continuity and legitimacy of the party-state system. The article reveals two core approaches of this system: first, negating the universal norms of Western democratic constitutionalism through "anti-stereotyping," emphasizing the flexibility of governance and centralization of power; second, advocating the virtuous governance of the elite class through the "differential mode of association," attempting to replace equal rights with a classical hierarchical order. Finally, the author critically points out that this narrative not only logically confuses empirical description with value norms, but also essentially aims to counter Enlightenment values and shape a new ideology with a high level of civilization for authoritarianism.