The Evolution of Chinese Definitions and Perspectives on Human Rights since 1978.

Abstract

The United States of America and other western powers have regularly condemned China of violating international human rights since the normalization of relations in January 1979. To illuminate this challenging and contentious topic, this thesis seeks to examine the conceptual evolution of human rights in China and the western world. The thesis uses tangible examples to illustrate foundational differences between the Chinese national statements and the western responses on various human rights issues. Specifically, this thesis examines key questions on societal topics including national legal reforms, same-sex marriage, and capital punishment. It also aims to explore the functional differences and media narratives of how Chinese and Western outlets have engaged on the topic of human rights since resuming relations. In structure, the first half of this thesis evaluates the literature and findings by existing authors on this topic, while the second half of the thesis seeks to compare and understand how views have evolved in these specific areas of inquiry. National policies and narratives have evolved over time, yet core perspectives on human rights remain grounded in fundamentally distinct philosophies and societal norms. By looking at the similarities or differences over time and analyzing selected works of the respective governments and scholars, this work can hopefully shed some light on this contentious topic and to allow others to gain a better understanding on China’s shifting approach to human rights in light of an ever-changing international environment.