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Comparing Rule-of-Law Paradigms: Xi Jinping’s Legal Thought and Classical Western Theories in Divergent Socio-Legal Contexts

Wang, Haochen LU (2025) SOLM02 20251
Department of Sociology of Law
Abstract
The rule of law, as a topic of long-standing concern to the sociology of law, has been contributed to by countless scholars from theoretical and empirical perspectives. However, there is still great potential for the study of the rule of law in other countries beyond the conventional Western understanding. This is especially the case for research on the rule of law in China, a self-proclaimed socialist country, and on the rule of law thought formulated by its highest leader, Xi Jinping. This thesis utilizes the comparative conceptual hermeneutic approach to develop a dialogue between Xi Jinping and three Western rule of law theorists, Raz, Waldron, and Finnis. In the comparative study, this thesis finds that Xi Jinping's idea of the rule... (More)
The rule of law, as a topic of long-standing concern to the sociology of law, has been contributed to by countless scholars from theoretical and empirical perspectives. However, there is still great potential for the study of the rule of law in other countries beyond the conventional Western understanding. This is especially the case for research on the rule of law in China, a self-proclaimed socialist country, and on the rule of law thought formulated by its highest leader, Xi Jinping. This thesis utilizes the comparative conceptual hermeneutic approach to develop a dialogue between Xi Jinping and three Western rule of law theorists, Raz, Waldron, and Finnis. In the comparative study, this thesis finds that Xi Jinping's idea of the rule of law differs from the Western understanding in terms of whether the law holds the highest authority, theoretical perspective, and value orientation. However, on the substantive dimensions such as justice and the common good of human beings, Xi's ideas resonate with those of Western rule of law theorists. In sum, the socialist rule of law developed in China and the classic Western rule of law theories still have the potential for mutual understanding, even though they were born in different socio-legal contexts. (Less)
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author
Wang, Haochen LU
supervisor
organization
course
SOLM02 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Rule of Law, Socialist Rule of Law, China, Xi Jinping’s Rule of Law Thought
language
English
id
9194140
date added to LUP
2025-06-23 09:30:38
date last changed
2025-06-23 09:30:38
@misc{9194140,
  abstract     = {{The rule of law, as a topic of long-standing concern to the sociology of law, has been contributed to by countless scholars from theoretical and empirical perspectives. However, there is still great potential for the study of the rule of law in other countries beyond the conventional Western understanding. This is especially the case for research on the rule of law in China, a self-proclaimed socialist country, and on the rule of law thought formulated by its highest leader, Xi Jinping. This thesis utilizes the comparative conceptual hermeneutic approach to develop a dialogue between Xi Jinping and three Western rule of law theorists, Raz, Waldron, and Finnis. In the comparative study, this thesis finds that Xi Jinping's idea of the rule of law differs from the Western understanding in terms of whether the law holds the highest authority, theoretical perspective, and value orientation. However, on the substantive dimensions such as justice and the common good of human beings, Xi's ideas resonate with those of Western rule of law theorists. In sum, the socialist rule of law developed in China and the classic Western rule of law theories still have the potential for mutual understanding, even though they were born in different socio-legal contexts.}},
  author       = {{Wang, Haochen}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Comparing Rule-of-Law Paradigms: Xi Jinping’s Legal Thought and Classical Western Theories in Divergent Socio-Legal Contexts}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}