Different Paths, the Past and Outlook

Francis Fukuyama demonstrated his three-component general model of political order and concluded: China took the lead in establishing a modern state during the Qin and Han Dynasties, the principle of the rule of law was rooted in Christianity, and government accountability first emerged in England after the Glorious Revolution. Examined from the perspectives of institutional economics and game theory, and based on the author’s in-depth research and understanding of Chinese history and comparative analysis with his general understanding of European history, this book presents a different yet compelling narrative. The principle of the rule of law was originally rooted in the Germanic tradition and was later reshaped by Christianity. The attributes of a state determine whether government accountability exists. Western countries followed a path based on a “covenant” model, while China took a different path in adopting a “force” model. The authors’ model of political order is broader than Fukuyama’s model (and includes a modified version of it), and thus better explains these different paths. In addition to tracing the past, the author also offers forward-looking perspectives on the inherent flaws and potential new challenges of these two different paths, and further analyses the competition and stalemate between the two in the context of globalization.