1 - Paradox of the Philosopher King

Summary

‘Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era’, or more simply ‘Xi Jinping Thought’ was incorporated in the Constitution of the Chinese Communist Party in 2017 and in the People's Republic of China Constitution in 2018. As one of the only two leaders with a ‘Thought’ (the other is Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China), Xi Jinping rises above his two most recent predecessors – Hu Jintao with his ‘scientific development perspective’ and Jiang Zemin with his ‘important thought of the Three Represents’, and even Deng Xiaoping who only had a ‘theory’. Though the precise meaning of ‘Xi Jinping Thought’ remains elusive, what is more intriguing is why Xi took such pains to alter the Party and state constitutions to announce its existence. Politics is of course one possible reason – the legal entrenchment of Xi Jinping Thought provides him with a constitutional fortification and bulwark against opportunistic domestic challenges to his leadership. Yet the means chosen to secure his position, focusing on Xi as ‘thinker’ and his thought and ideas as his most distinguishing and meritorious contribution, suggests that it is not sufficient to occupy the highest office and wield the greatest power to be an outstanding leader; to be truly exceptional a leader also needs a unique ‘Thought’ and therefore needs to be thinker or philosopher. Philosophy or wisdom if not superior, at the very least complements and completes political authority or power. Xi Jinping and Xi Jinping Thought therefore confirms the centrality of the idea of the ‘philosopher king’ in modern China. Xi Jinping and China are not unique in this respect. Modern founders of states and revolutionary leaders have also tended to provide a philosophical or theoretical justification for their actions. Consider, for example, the famous writings or books that accompanied, justified or defended new states: Lenin's What is to Be Done (1902); Mein Kampf (1926), Hitler's notorious justification for the Third Reich; Mussolini's The Doctrine of Fascism (1932); Stalin's Marxism and the National Question (1935); Nasser's The Philosophy of the Revolution (1956); Mao's The Little Red Book (1964); Mahathir's Malay Dilemma (1970); Qaddafi's The Green Book (1975); Khomeini's Islamic Government (1979); Kim Il-sung's Jeojakjip (1979); Niyazov's The Rukhnama (2001).