| Abstract | The clash of ideas in Chinese intellectual circles can be considered a recurrence of traditional concerns. This is clear in the case of Tu Weiming's neo-Confucianism. Other tendencies, such as post-modernism, post-structuralism and post-colonialism can be attributed to the attempt to open up the country to the outside world. Still other polemics arise directly from economic development, like the debate over popular versus elite culture. The proponents of conservative trends base their arguments on historical analyses of China since the beginning of the modern era, so the emergence of discussions over the direction to be taken in political reform may be seen as a return of neo-authoritarianism. |
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