The East Asian Challenge for Democracy: Political Meritocracy in Comparative Perspective

ISBN-13: 9781107038394 / Angielski / Twarda / 2013 / 412 str.

Daniel A. Bell; Chenyang Li

Opis

The rise of China, along with problems of governance in democratic countries, has reinvigorated the theory of political meritocracy. But what is the theory of political meritocracy and how can it set standards for evaluating political progress (and regress)? Can meritocracy be reconciled with democracy and if so, how? What is the history of political meritocracy and what can it teach us today? How is political meritocracy practiced in contemporary societies in China, Singapore, and elsewhere and what are its advantages and disadvantages in terms of producing just outcomes and contributing to good governance? To help answer these questions, this volume gathers a series of commissioned research papers from an interdisciplinary group of leading philosophers, historians, and social scientists. The result is the first book in decades to examine the rise (or revival) of political meritocracy and what it will mean for political developments in China and the rest of the world. Despite its limitations, meritocracy has contributed much to human flourishing in East Asia and beyond and will continue to do so in the future. This book is essential reading for those who wish to further the debate and perhaps even help to implement desirable forms of political change."

Recenzje

'Bell and Li posit a provocative thesis that East Asian political meritocracy poses a deeper challenge to liberal democracy than most in the West suspect. … Bell and Li, together and separately, have done much to reinvigorate both the scholarly discussion and public dialogue regarding the virtues of political meritocracy. Their book is an excellent compendium for both scholars and students interested in the impact that modern political Confucianism and political meritocracy play in China, Singapore, East and South Asian societies, as well as the implications of political meritocracy's potential influence on liberal democracy and democratic theory.' Jon R. Taylor, Journal of Chinese Political Science

Spis treści

Part I. The Theory of Political Meritocracy: 1. Political meritocracy and meritorious rule: a Confucian perspective Joseph Chan; 2. A Confucian version of hybrid regime: how does it work and why is it superior? Tongdong Bai; 3. Confucian meritocracy for contemporary China Ruiping Fan; 4. The liberal critique of democracy John Skorupski; 5. Meritocratic representation Philip Pettit; Part II. The History of Political Meritocracy: 6. Between merit and pedigree: evolution of the concept of 'elevating the worthy' in pre-imperial China Yuri Pines; 7. A society in motion: unexpected consequences of political meritocracy in late imperial China, 1400–1900 Benjamin Elman; 8. Meritocratic democracy: learning from the American Constitution Stephen Macedo; Part III. Realizing Political Meritocracy Today: 9. How East Asians view meritocracy: a Confucian perspective Doh Chull Shin; 10. Political meritocracy in Singapore: lessons from the PAP government Benjamin Wong; 11. Meritocracy and political liberalization in Singapore Kenneth Paul Tan; 12. China's meritocratic examinations and the ideal of virtuous talents Hong Xiao and Chenyang Li; 13. Reflections on political meritocracy: its manipulation and transformation Philippe C. Schmitter; 14. Political meritocracy and direct democracy: a hybrid experiment in California Nicolas Berggruen and Nathan Gardels.