About the book:
Why Ancient Chinese Political Thought Matters presents four imagined dialogues among modern followers of Confucian, Daoist, Mohist, and Legalist traditions. By applying these competing perspectives to contemporary issues such as social harmony, corruption, political leadership, divorce law, and Taiwan, Daniel A. Bell shows that ancient Chinese thought remains relevant to present-day political and moral debates. The book also challenges the view of Chinese political thought as unified or monolithic, emphasizing instead its internal diversity and its continuing value as a resource for reflecting critically on both Chinese and global politics.
Biography
Daniel A. Bell (貝淡寧) is Professor, Chair of Political Theory with the School of Governance and Policy at the University of Hong Kong. He served as Dean of the School of Political Science and Public Administration at Shandong University (Qingdao) from 2017 to 2022. His books include Why Ancient Chinese Political Thought Matters (2026), The Dean of Shandong (2023), Just Hierarchy (co-authored with Wang Pei, 2020), The China Model (2015), The Spirit of Cities (co-authored with Avner de-Shalit, 2012), China’s New Confucianism (2008), Beyond Liberal Democracy (2007), and East Meets West (2000), all published by Princeton University Press. He is also the author of Communitarianism and Its Critics (Oxford University Press, 1993). He is founding editor of the Princeton-China series (Princeton University Press) which translates and publishes original and influential academic works from China. His works have been translated in 23 languages. He has been interviewed in English, Chinese, and French. In 2018, he was awarded the Huilin Prize and was honoured as a “Cultural Leader” by the World Economic Forum. In 2019, he was awarded the Special Book award of China. In 2021, he was selected as People’s Friendship Envoy of Shandong Province. In 2024, he was elected Vice-President of the International Confucian Association.
This event is presented by the Centre for Chinese Research.
