Slogan of “Community of Shared Future for Mankind”

Abstract

This chapter studies the concept of “Community of Shared Future for Mankind” and how it was gradually established in China. This chapter argues that the concept should be understood as a symbolic political slogan instead of concrete policy ideas. Being enshrined in both the CCP’s and the PRC’s constitutions, this concept holds a theoretical high ground that is designed as an overarching concept to integrate other key diplomatic concepts advocated by Xi Jinping. It is hailed by China as a Chinese wisdom to “enlighten” the world. Despite its symbolic significance, this concept is neither clearly defined nor coherently used. This chapter shows how it was put forward as a vague concept and gradually filled with meanings in a subsequent and incremental manner. During this process, this concept was used very loosely, and the production of its derivatives had further complicated it. As such, this concept remains a propaganda slogan that consists of little policy relevance.