Beyond Left and Right Radicalism

Author: Xiao Gongqin

Publisher: Zhejiang University Press

Publishing Date: Aug 2012

Xiao holds nothing back in attacking both sides of the political spectrum. He labels any deviation from the current political orthodoxy and the eventual goal of constitutional government as extremist. Xiao opposes both the revolutionary romanticism of the far left and the oversimplifications of 'right wing' western liberalism. Instead he advocates preserving historic continuity, cultivating a civil society via gradual progress based on the foundations of the existing social order. He explains his argument by emphasizing that when analysing problems facing China, observers must learn from the country's history and apply common sense and reason. He calls for progressive trial and error to uncover the optimal route to achieving a soft landing into a democratic constitutional government.