Political instability in Imperial China: Confucian and Legalist perspectives
Key information
- Date
- Time
-
5:00 pm to 6:30 pm
- Venue
- SOAS Main Building
- Room
- RB01
- Event type
- Seminar
About this event
In this seminar, Dr Sam Crane argues that the institutional structure of the Confucian-Legalist state created incentives that thwarted the stable enactment of leadership roles required for political stability.
Confucianism and Legalist both strive, in very different ways, for political stability. However, each is frustrated in its pursuit due to a shared commitment to highly centralized, omnipotent monarchy. With reference to Huang Zongxi and examples from the Ming and Qing dynasties, this seminar argues that the institutional structure of the Confucian-Legalist state created incentives that thwarted the stable enactment of leadership roles required for political stability.
Registration
This event is free to attend, but registration is required. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
This event is taking place on campus and will not be recorded or live-streamed.
Organiser
About the speaker
Sam Crane teaches contemporary Chinese politics and ancient Chinese philosophy at Williams College. He is currently Director of the Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford University.
His most recent writing has focused on modern applications of ancient Chinese thought, including: 'The Problem of Power in Classical Confucian Political Thought', Comparative Political Theory, 1(1), 2021.
This event will be chaired by Professor Steve Tsang, Director of the SOAS China Institute.
Contact
Email: sci@soas.ac.uk
Photo credit: Eean Chen on Unsplash
