Sun Yat-sen and Chinese Modernity: Some Thoughts about the Paradox between Democracy and Technocracy

Title

Sun Yat-sen and Chinese Modernity: Some Thoughts about the Paradox between Democracy and Technocracy

Author

Kuang-che PAN

Page

115-141

DOI

10.6163/TJEAS.201906_16(1).0004

Abstract

This article analyzes how Sun Yat-sen’s (1866-1925) followers articulate his discourse on the distinction between sovereignty and ability. In Sun’s views, the power over the government indicates that the great power is entirely in the hands of the people. People possess a full degree of sovereignty and are able to directly control the affairs of state. The power of governance, correspondingly, is in the hands of the government organs. The organs are powerful and are able to manage all nation’s business. Sun’s discourse can be examined in the intellectual context of the failure in modern democracy. Sun’s followers, however, neglect his concern about democratic procedures. Instead, they emphasize the great power of the government organs and interpret it as technocracy.

Keyword

Sun Yat-sen, Chinese Modernity, Democracy, Technocracy

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