The Confucian Political Imagination

This book critically examines the Confucian political imagination and its influence on the contemporary Chinese dream of a powerful China.  It views Confucianism as the ideological supplement to a powerful state that is challenging Western hegemony, and not as a political philosophy that need not concern us.  Eske Møllgaard shows that Confucians, despite their traditionalist ways, have the will to transform the existing socio-ethical order. The volume discusses the central features of the Confucian political imaginary, the nature of Confucian discourse, Confucian revivals, Confucian humanism and civility, and the political ideal of the Great Unity.  It concludes by considering if Confucianism can be universalized as an ideology in competition with liberal democracy.

“An outstanding contribution to the currently booming discourse on the Confucian revival: a contribution that will be studied and discussed both in academe and in the wider circles of an interested public as well. … it can be safely stated that this book will soon become a seminal text for scholars of Chinese culture and society, and is thus warmly recommended to all students of Chinese religions as well.” (Lehel Balogh, Religious Studies Review, Vol. 45 (2), June, 2019)

“This book is a powerful and original take on the revival of imperial Confucianism in China, with its emphasis on ritual and order and its cloak of humanity and compassion, which is taking place as Chinese leaders try to bolster their power in the wake of the bankruptcy of Communist ideology. Møllgaard’s work will be a key reference for any discussions of where China is heading and what it will mean for the world.” (Magnus Fiskesjö, Cornell University, USA)

“Eske Møllgaard’s book is likely to become the seminal philosophical monograph on contemporary China and the ongoing revival of Confucianism.  His analysis of Confucian political culture is extremely sophisticated, though critical, even iconoclastic. While reading, I finally understood how knowing Chinese philosophy, combined with the insights of European critical theory (Hegel, Adorno, Žižek), will help us prepare for the post-American world. A must read for anyone interested in the twenty-first century.” (Kai Marchal, National Chengchi University, Taipei)

“Møllgaard undertakes two tasks with one strike, one being a critique of the Confucian political imagination, considering its conditions, presuppositions, limits, and possibilities and the other being a Confucian critique of the world, both ancient and contemporary, both Chinese and Western, holding it up to the standard of the Confucian political imagination. He does both tasks elegantly, masterfully, and magnificently.” (Huang Yong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Eske Møllgaard is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Rhode Island, USA.