Intellectual Discourse in Reform Era China

This book explores intellectual discourse in reform era China by analysing the so-called "debate on the spirit of the Humanities", which occurred in the years 1993-95. Drawing on a large corpus of texts and a wide range of individual positions, it demonstrates how Chinese intellectuals, conceptualised and reacted to both.

Giorgio Strafella is a Research Fellow in the Department of Chinese Culture and Society at the University of St Gallen

1. Introduction 2. A State of Flux 3. Change as Direction 4. The Limits of Choice 5. Choice as Place 6. Spiritual Borders 7. The West as a Resource Conclusion