Constitutionalism And Individual - Construction Of Modernity In State Relations

Since the beginning of modern times, China has been struggling formodernization. Constitutionalism has been regarded as an important tool for this goalsince the constitutional movement in the late Qing Dynasty. We have thought thatmodernization means the country become rich and powerful for a long time. However,we pay little attention to the significance of the spirit and value of modernizationwhich is the real concern of constitutionalism. Therefore, constitutionalism has, in thecontext of China, the connotation and character which are totally different from theWest. Under such unilateral understanding and pursuit of modernization, China isconfronted with the modern crisis on the level of normative value.Modernization of the western world is generated in its traditional culture, whichemphasizes the human value. The constitutionalism of liberalism, which is based onrationality, strives for protecting individual freedom by limiting the power of state. Ithas also become the mainstream of western constitutional thought. But meanwhile,there are also critiques and reflections on liberal constitutional thought inside westernmodern thought.The history of China’s constitutional struggle is always state-oriented under thethreat of nation in peril and the influence of traditional culture. While in the process,human value has also been given more and more attention.Thus there is the basis for dialogue between the Chinese and westernconstitutional thought. And their modernization is absolutely not opposite. With therational consciousness, China’s constitutional struggle should aim for not only theimportance of nation state, but also the solid protection for people’s right.