State and Civil Society

Section Outline

  • Explore the foundation of the modern state

    • Introduction to basic theories and concepts

    • Imagined Communities

    • Invented Tradition

  • Explore how the relationship between the state, society, and individuals changed during the reform and opening-up process

  • Reflect on how the concept of “civil society” emerged and developed in China

Globalization and Modern Society

  • The concept of modernization began to spread with the process of globalization

  • Asian countries initiated their own process of modernization in response to this spread

    • The modernization process encompasses all aspects of society

    • Besides economic development, the more important goal is to achieve political, social, and cultural modernization

    • How to establish a modern state became an urgent task

  • Modern school systems are often considered to play an important role in this process

  • While moving towards a modern society, one must also face the contradictions and problems it brings

The Nation State in Modern Times

  • Definition of a nation state

    • The combination of collective identity and political system

    • Developed and spread since the 18th century, gradually becoming the only legitimate natural entity in modern international relations

    • Regarded as possessing independent identity and autonomous rights

    • The ideal state is based on a single nation, possesses a unified culture, and thus establishes a state to jointly manage affairs

    • For example: national language, national traditions, etc.

  • Actual situation

    • Very few countries in the world are composed of a single nation

    • In terms of political legitimacy, problems often arise in how to handle relations between different ethnic groups

    • State power often changes its discourse regarding its nation-state according to needs at different times

    • Historical examples:

    • Qing Dynasty: Caucasians vs. Mongoloids (race)

    • Republic of China (before establishment): Han vs. Manchu (ethnicity)

    • Republic of China (after establishment): Integration of various ethnicities (citizens)

    • People's Republic of China: Early days of nation-building "imperialists" vs. "communist revolutionaries" (class)

    • "Fifty-six constellations, fifty-six flowers" (ethnicity)

Imagined Community

  • The state as a typical example of an "imagined community"

    • Connections between people no longer rely solely on daily experience but must be constructed through imagination

    • "Chinese people" include those seen daily and those never seen

    • Possesses clear boundaries

    • Distinguishes between "us" and "them"; the community's boundaries can be flexibly adjusted

    • Members have rights to participate and manage affairs

    • Basis for governance legitimacy

    • Bestows members with a common sense of identity and belonging

    • Includes members already alive and those yet to be born in the future

    • Requires institutions to maintain community integration

Invention of Tradition

  • Definition: Unique forms of living practices of social groups

    • Through continuous repetition of symbolic, ritualistic, and regular practices, specific values and norms are transmitted

    • Often regarded as ancient or unchanging, providing members with meaning in life

    • Functions:

    • Unites social members

    • Legitimizes social institutions and authority

    • Embodies social values and norms

    • Can change according to societal needs

    • Example: The function of national culture to unite members

"Civil Society" in China: Definition and Significance

  • Does a "civil society" in the Western theoretical sense exist in China?

    • Broad definition: A society composed of citizens

    • Narrow definition: A public sphere composed of autonomous, diverse, and open social groups and networks

  • The meaning of "civil society" has three different interpretations

    • Closely related to Western traditions of liberalism, communitarianism, and republicanism

    • Liberalism: Emphasizes individual rationality and "the individual is greater than society," i.e., individualism

    • Communitarianism: Emphasizes the balance between individuals and groups

    • Republicanism: Political activity is a process of individual "self-realization," which must rely on an autonomous republican society

The Interplay of Law and Morality

  • The emergence of civil society is accompanied by an emphasis on the rule of law

    • Law, as a social norm, needs to be realized through civil society

    • The mutual promotion and constraint between the rule of law and democracy

Managed Globalization

  • How the Chinese government strategically responds to globalization

    • Starting from the 1990s, facing a new stage of globalization, it proposed that "the Communist Party-led government has the ability" to counteract the effects of globalization

    • Monitoring society's connections with the global system, especially external cultural ideas that threaten its own rule

Conclusion

  • China's "civil society" is facing challenges of development and change, and its future may depend on the interaction between the state and civil society

  • How to balance state power and the needs of civil society will be a key focus of future research