Republicanism (a theory about freedom and government)

Author: (Australia) Pettit, P. (Author), translated by Liu Xunlian
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Features: The views of republicanism on the creation of political order and the construction of political institutions undoubtedly have a certain exemplary and reference role for the political transformation of contemporary China. As a "follower of free states," China's political institutional reform must proceed in a sound, orderly, and effective manner, taking into account both the aspects of democratic republicanism and constitutional republicanism, while maintaining an appropriate tension between the two. Under such an understanding, drawing on Akerman's distinction between constitutional politics and routine politics at the strategic level to examine the institutional reform of contemporary China is somewhat enlightening. The discourse of republicanism on the creation of political order reveals to us that the self-legislation of a democratic and rule-of-law state can be traced back to the founders' determination to draft a constitution; however, whether the founders are "great men" or "the people," they must self-limit to avoid an overly strong determinist tendency. In this regard, there is Machiavelli's teaching: "The caprice of a ruler is madness, and the caprice of the people is folly."