An Interview With an Author Who Writes About Confucius

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Andrew Browne, Writing China: Michael Schuman, ‘Confucius and the World He Created.’ China Real Time, Mar 13, 2015
blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/03/13/writing-china-michael-schuman-confucius-and-the-world-he-created/
(interview via email a book author, the book being Michael Schuman, Confucius and the World He Created. Basic Books, Mar 3, 2015)   

Quote:

“In the 19th century, Confucianism was widely blamed for China’s backwardness and resistance to reform. Now it’s being touted as a great strength of a rapidly modernizing East Asia. How do you explain this? * * * The contradictions, in my opinion, show the limitations of using culture to explain economic results.

"Chinese President Xi Jinping often cites Confucius in his speeches. Is he, like the old emperors, using the sage to justify authoritarianism?  I believe that is exactly what President Xi is doing. * * *  Now the Chinese Communist Party is attempting to do the same [as past emperors of China] – use a carefully crafted version of an undeniably Chinese political tradition to legitimize its rule while holding off unwanted Western ideals about human rights and democracy. I also think Xi may be emphasizing Confucian morality as part of his campaign to clean up corruption and improve the quality of the civil service.

"You dedicate the book to your wife, Eunice Yoon, who you describe as 'my favorite Confucian.' * * * My wife is Korean-American, and was born and raised in the Midwestern United States, so she is far from the traditional Korean women.
                                 
“There’s something compelling about the Confucian notion of rule by virtuous people. But how should such people be selected in modern societies? My personal view here is that this problem hits at one of the weaknesses of Confucius’s political doctrine. Confucius never discovered a way of making sure the right people ruled. Confucius lived in an age of monarchy, so his ideal leader was inevitably, a sage-king. He tried in his own life to reform the people already in power through guidance and education, but he did not have much success.

“So is there a conflict between Confucianism and democracy?  * * * Mencius, the most influential Confucian thinker after Confucius himself, suggested that the people have the right to choose their own leaders, and even overthrow an oppressive ruler.

Note:
(a) There is no need to read the rest/
(b) Eunice YOON
(i) Eunice
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunice
(Greek, from "eu", good, and "níkē," victory [name of the sneaker company])
(ii) Yoon (Korean surname)  尹
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoon_(Korean_surname)
(The Hanja character 尹 is defined as "eldest" in Korean which is different from the Chinese definition; The Chinese character 尹 is also used * * * in China and as Doãn in Vietnam)