Xing Liju and Chai Lin: "Civilizational coexistence" is a good medicine to dissolve "Western-centrism."

Beijing, 4 Apr (ZXS) -- "Civilized coexistence" is a good medicine for dispelling "Western-centric theory."

The author: Xing Liju is a professor at the Institute of International Studies and deputy director of the Center for Korean Studies at Fudan University

Lin Chai is a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Development, Fudan University

General Secretary Xi Jinping first proposed the Global Civilization Initiative at the high-level dialogue between the Communist Party of China and world political parties held on March 3. This is another major initiative issued by China to the world after the "Global Development Initiative" and the "Global Security Initiative", and it is also the first time that China's civilization concept has been systematically explained to the world.

The Global Civilization Initiative puts forward four proposals: jointly advocating respect for the diversity of world civilizations; Jointly advocate and promote the common values of all mankind; Jointly advocate attaching importance to the inheritance and innovation of civilization; Jointly advocate strengthening international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

These four proposals not only have the basic concepts and principles of exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, but also the source of power and realistic path for realization, which are of great significance for eliminating the current contradictions and conflicts between China and the West and promoting the harmonious coexistence of world civilizations.

The China-Qatar Youth Kickbow Exchange Experience Activity was held at the Doha Football Training Center, Qatar, and Qatari Youth experienced China's Kickbow. Photo by Cui Nan

The British historian Toynbee constructed a historical theory of the form of civilization in his famous "Historical Research". He believes that the emergence and evolution of human civilization is diverse, and in the 6000,<>-year history of mankind, there have been many civilizations in the world, and the diversity of civilizations is the basic form of historical development. Civilization is only the difference between Ziyan and red, and there is absolutely no distinction between high and low. The first point of the Global Civilization Initiative is to advocate respect for the diversity of world civilizations. To advocate respect for the diversity of world civilizations, it is necessary to adhere to the equality, mutual learning, dialogue and tolerance of civilizations, transcend the barriers between civilizations through civilizational exchanges, transcend the clash of civilizations with mutual learning among civilizations, and surpass the superiority of civilizations with civilizational tolerance.

The first Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations was held at the Palace Museum in Beijing, attended by nearly 100 representatives from different civilizations around the world. Photo by Jiang Qiming

Civilizational exchanges are the historical trend of the development of human society. Transcending civilizational barriers through civilizational exchanges is not only a historical choice, but also a fundamental way to deal with global problems and crises. The "gap" between human civilization is only a reflection of the problems that arise when different civilizations communicate with each other, and is not a fundamental feature of the development of human civilization.

In the face of the estrangement and alienation of different countries and groups of people under the background of globalization, China advocates grasping the universality of human interests and values, finding the greatest common divisor in state-to-state relations, and examining the world from the starting point of "finding commonalities" rather than "finding differences". However, the thinking concept of "if it is not our race, its heart must be different" in Western culture, it has erected an invisible wall for the exchange of human civilization.

In 2021, Asian Americans were frequently subjected to racial discrimination, and hate crimes against Asian Americans attracted much social attention. The picture shows an anti-Asian hate march in New York in April 2021. Photo by Liao Pan

Whether it is cultural monism or the conclusion of the end of history, it is based on the ideological concepts of Western civilization to understand and view non-Western civilization. Western civilizationists believe that Western civilization is superior or superior to other civilizations, and that Western civilization should dominate the future of human civilization. In fact, no civilization can interfere with other civilizations and exercise civilizational hegemony. Different civilizations should persist in tolerating differences and transcend civilizational barriers through exchanges among civilizations.

Looking back at history, people can find that the exchanges and mutual learning of human civilization have outlined a picture of a prosperous and colorful civilization. Historically, Zhang Qian's envoys to the Western Regions, Jian Zhen's eastward crossing to Japan, Xuanzang's westward journey to learn scriptures, etc., the story of mutual exchange and learning between Chinese civilization and other civilizations has been passed down to this day. From ancient times to the present, mankind has always broken through various barriers and closures in the course of civilizational exchanges and mutual learning, and jointly promoted the development of all human civilization.

The major historical dance drama "Zhang Qian", modeled on Zhang Qian's envoy to the Western Regions in the Han Dynasty, was staged in Urumqi. Photo by Liu Xin

American scholar Samuel Huntington put forward the famous "clash of civilizations theory", believing that the main conflict of global politics will be between countries and groups of different civilizations, the "clash of civilizations" will dominate global politics, and the fracture zone between civilizations will become the future front. The "theory of clash of civilizations" adheres to the Cold War mentality and confrontation mentality, and is regarded by Western countries as the basic paradigm for understanding the world, ignoring the theme of the times of peace and development in the world today. But Huntington also noted that "my hope is that my call to the dangers of a clash of civilizations will help to promote a 'dialogue of civilizations' throughout the world." The leading politicians in Europe and Asia are already talking about the need to curb the clash of civilizations and engage in such a dialogue."

Only by "dialogue among civilizations" and transcending the clash of civilizations through mutual learning among civilizations can we truly touch the fundamental characteristics of civilization, and are also the fundamental way out for the development of human civilization and the fundamental requirement for the prosperity of today's civilization. Since ancient times, Chinese civilization has been known for its openness and inclusiveness, and it has constantly gained new vitality through exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations.

More than 300 masterpieces of Chinese and French art were unveiled at the Palace Museum. Photo by Du Yang

From the eastward spread of Buddhism, the "Yiru Huitong", to the "learning from the west and the east", the introduction of new cultural movements, Marxism and socialist ideas into China, and then to the opening up to the outside world since the reform and opening up, Chinese civilization has always been eclectic and enduring. Similarly, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, ancient Chinese culture represented by Confucianism was introduced to Europe, which directly affected the European Enlightenment. The philosophy of Confucius became an important driving factor in the development of the philosophical ideas of Leibniz and Voltaire. The development history of Chinese civilization for more than 5,000 years fully shows that ideas and culture have developed and progressed through continuous dissemination, exchange and interaction. As the famous Chinese translator Luo Niansheng said in a short poem "East and West" in his early years: "East and West have their own directions, and my imagination is still in the center where they meet." ”

The "Centennial Red Newspaper Special Exhibition" was held in Beijing, displaying a large number of progressive newspapers and periodicals represented by "New Youth" and "Beijing News" that appeared during the New Culture Movement and the May Fourth Movement. Photo by Guo Haipeng

Since the Industrial Revolution in the 17th century, the civilization order promoted by the West in the world has not only promoted the liberation and great development of the productive forces, but also opened the road of cultural hegemony through colonization under the domination of Western civilization centrism. "Western-centrism" gradually "sells" around the world with strong ships and capital monopolies, as if Christian civilization is the only way out for the development of human civilization, and the modernization model created by the Anglo-Saxons is the only answer. Western economist Friedrich Hayek asserted that "Western civilization, which grew up on the foundations laid by Christianity and the Greeks and Romans," is an example that non-Western countries should follow.

On June 2020, 6, an anti-racism demonstration involving thousands of people took place in Berlin, Germany. Photo by Peng Dawei

"Western-centrism" combines cultural industry and capital expansion through economic globalization, and implants American-style democracy, freedom and human rights into the world through the "pyramid" and "Darwinian" world order. This has become part of the long-term strategy of Western countries to pursue peaceful evolution and various forms of "color revolutions" against the non-Western world.

"Western-centrism" is an unequal ideological culture and a discordant way of thinking, which not only threatens world peace and development, but also hinders the harmonious coexistence of human civilization. Looking back at history, Chinese civilization has successively engaged in dialogue and exchanges with Indian civilization and Western civilization, realizing the "coexistence of civilizations" between Chinese civilization and other civilizations. The long history of the development of Chinese civilization shows that dialogue, exchange and integration among different civilizations are the inevitable trend of the development of human civilization, and that transcending the superiority of civilization with civilization tolerance is the fundamental requirement for the progress, perfection and development of human civilization. "Coexistence of civilizations" is a good medicine for dissolving "Western-centric theory" and is also the main principle of the exchange and development of human civilization.

Noda Arnashf, Assistant Director-General for Social Sciences at UNESCO, stressed: "At present, the world's shared value system still faces many challenges. If the diversity of civilizations is not fully recognized and respected, fear, narrow-mindedness, discrimination will emerge ... China is playing an increasingly important role in promoting global exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. ”

Visitors were attracted by the giant dragon lanterns at the 3rd Toronto Dragon Culture Festival to experience and appreciate the display of Chinese culture. Photo by Yu Ruidong

"The beauty of harmony lies in the harmony of differences." In today's world, the future and destiny of all countries are closely linked, and the historical trend of peaceful development is unstoppable. Only by uniting the consensus on values among different civilizations can human society work together to cope with crises and challenges. The Global Civilization Initiative is an organic combination of China's outlook on civilization and China's modernization, using the power of civilization to solve the problems of the times, and opening up a new path for all countries in the world to live in harmony and cooperate in the century-old changes of accelerated evolution. As a new form of human civilization, Chinese-style modernization will greatly enrich the hundred gardens of world civilization by learning from other civilizations around the world. (End)

About the Experts:

Xing Liju, professor at the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University and deputy director of the Center for Korean Studies

Xing Liju is currently a professor and doctoral supervisor of the Institute of International Studies of Fudan University, a Chinese member of the "Committee for the Future Development of China-Korea Relations" of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a director of the International Confucian Federation, a director of the China Practical Studies Association, and a vice president of the Chinese and Korean Literature and Culture Comparative Research Association. His main research areas include East Asian philosophy and intellectual history, Chinese culture and diplomacy, and people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries.

Chai Lin, a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Development Studies of Fudan University

Chai Lin is a postdoctoral researcher at Fudan University. During the master's and doctoral studies, he went to Kobe University in Japan and the University of California, Berkeley, and went to South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and other places for academic exchanges. His research interests include modern East Asian intellectual history, culture and international relations. He has published more than ten academic papers at home and abroad, and presided over many projects such as sub-projects specially commissioned by the National Social Science Foundation and overseas Korean studies support projects of the Academia Siena of Korean Studies.