This book analyzes in detail differing interpretations of the rule of law in Western legal systems and in the People s Republic of China. As the rule of law is seen by many as a prerequisite for China s future development, politicians, activists and entrepreneurs from China and from the West alike have long been calling for adherence to this principle, which is constitutive of Western democracies. All these groups use the same words, but do they truly share the same idea?

In order to address this question, the book compares the Rule of Law with Chinese characteristics, as propagated...