REFERENCES
Circle 19 provides academic articles demonstrating that the right to information has continuously been a core intellectual cause for progressive Chinese scholars and intellectuals, and that the struggle for its fulfilment has been present throughout Chinese history and still plays a key role in today’s society.
Freedom of speech and expression, an unseen pillar of Confucianism
Contrary to widespread misconception, freedom of speech and expression does not go against Confucian’s principles but is an essential condition for the realisation of ethical conduct and moral governance. Classical Chinese philosophy entered the international human rights discourse in 1948 when Chinese scholar Lo Chung-shu contributed a Confucian perspective to the United Nations’ consultations for…
In Republican China (1912-1949), liberals and communists aligned on the vital role of freedom of speech and thought
Both liberal and communist thinkers in Republican China (1912-1949) viewed freedom of speech and thought as defining features of modernity. From differing perspectives, they debated the meaning of this freedom for China and the ways it could be realised. Despite encountering strong resistance in practice, these convictions continue to serve as valuable intellectual resources for…
The Chinese legacy on the right to information
Contrary to the People’s Republic of China’s official discourse, based on cultural relativism that states that human rights are a “Western” concept unfit to apply to a Chinese context, the right to information and the struggle for its fulfilment have been present throughout the history of the country and still plays a key role in…
The right to information at the heart of modern China’s intellectual discourse
The universal principles of human rights, including the right to information, have been claimed by progressive Chinese scholars and intellectuals since the 19th century. Despite many setbacks in contemporary China, the struggle for the right to information has continued to be a core intellectual cause. The endorsement of the right to information and freedom of…