Dialogues on Democratic Enlightenment: Correspondence between Xu Liangying and Li Shenzhi

Published with pride by Yijia Publishing

 

Two Awakened Pioneers

1800 Days of Candid Exchanges

The Brilliant Collision of Two Wise Minds

 

Xu Liangying, a historian of science, researcher at the Institute for the History of Natural Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, a democratic thinker, and social activist.

Li Shenzhi, former Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, founding director of the Institute of American Studies, hailed as a "leading figure of Chinese liberalism in the 20th century."

Both gentlemen were successively labeled as "rightists." Through self-enlightenment, they both subsequently became staunch liberals. In February 1998, Li Shenzhi wrote to Xu Liangying, asking for his comments on one of his articles. Xu Liangying quickly replied. This initiated a five-year correspondence between the two elderly men, who had never met before, engaging in a profound dialogue about China's future. The correspondence continued until March 2003, when it was cut short by Li's sudden passing.

In their correspondence, the two elders shared their respective journeys of breaking with the past and becoming advocates for democracy and freedom. They firmly believed that only through re-enlightenment, especially the self-enlightenment of intellectuals, could China achieve true democracy and modernization. They looked back at the past and examined the present, discussing various topics such as the true meaning and conditions of democracy, China's authoritarian tradition, the role of intellectuals, the relationship between scientific spirit and democratic freedom, modernization, and globalization. They also frankly shared their critiques of extreme nationalism and New Left thought. Their reflections, even today, remain insightful and often thought-provoking.

This book is not only a record of the intellectual journey of Chinese intellectuals at the end of the 20th century but also a precious legacy of social change and cultural reflection. For any reader concerned about China's future, this book is undoubtedly a rare intellectual feast.

2025-03-06

1 Plus Books

288

9781949736946