Situating strategic or hybrid Confucianism(s): Issues and problematics

Abstract

This commentary reviews the arguments made in An et al.’s ‘Towards a Confucian Geopolitics’. Particularly, I consider An et al.’s main claim that a form of strategic and/or ‘hybrid Confucianism’ has played a significant role in the construction of contemporary Chinese geopolitics. While I accept aspects of this argument, this commentary also raises further theoretical and empirical issues that are immanent within the work. I draw attention to: (1) concerns relating to the historical narrative constructed by the authors; (2) problematics relating to the recent diversity of contemporary Confucian discourse; and (3) questions relating to the geographies of Confucianism.