La US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (che produce sempre materiale molto interessante) ha appena pubblicato un report, frutto di una ricerca svolta dallo staff della commissione, sull'atteggiamento del Partito Comunista Cinese nei confronti dei precetti filosofici di Kong Zi, altrimenti detto Confucio.
Secondo la ricerca alcuni elementi del confucianesimo, in passato bandito dal PCC e recentemente riabilitato, sono utilizzati dalla leadership cinese come strumento di propaganda (anche internazionale) e come pilastro del proprio assetto di potere interno.
Scrivono gli analisti nelle loro conclusioni:
"The elevation of a selectively interpreted form of Confucianism to the status of a semi-official state ideology is a natural choice for the Chinese Communist Party. While Marxist ideological formulations are still required within internal Party discourse, the collapse of public belief in Communism leaves a void to be filled. The CCP has sought, with some success, to fill this void with the bread of economic development and the circuses of Chinese nationalism. However, while nationalism has been actively fostered by the CCP as a pillar of support for the regime, it is only a partial solution: nationalism does not soothe domestic dissatisfactions resulting from income inequality and social injustice, and could potentially become a force directed against the Party itself. Furthermore, the uglier outbursts of Chinese nationalism directed abroad have alarmed China’s neighbors and pushed some of them into closer alliance with the United States – a country perceived by the CCP to be the menacing “hegemon” of the international system, and one of its principal national security threats.
It is in these regards that the reworked interpretations of CCP Confucianism are most beneficial to the state: hearkening back to Confucianism offers an indigenous tradition of social philosophy that satisfies nationalist impulses and supports authoritarian politics, while presenting a gentler face to audiences both at home and abroad. It is also a philosophical tradition that is non-theistic – thereby avoiding the CCP’s anxieties regarding religion as a potential source of subversion – as well as one which, with a bit of ideological retooling, can be made compatible with official interpretations of Marxism.
The CCP finds Confucianism attractive for the same reasons that Chinese imperial dynasties found it attractive: It provides an ideological pillar of support for the ruling political order, while simultaneously allowing the regime opportunities to dress itself in the themes of benevolence and humanitarianism. It remains to be seen whether or not this evolving ideology will have a significant impact on Chinese society – but whether it does or not, the themes of CCP Confucianism are likely to remain an important element of the Chinese Government’s propaganda efforts for many years to come"
