Upholding Fundamental Principles and Breaking New Ground in Building China’s Independent Human Rights Knowledge System

— A Theoretical Review of and Outlook for Human Rights Research in 2024

WANG Liwan* & DI Lei**

Abstract: In 2024, China’s human rights research has assumed a distinct “autonomy-oriented shift,” with scholars beginning to refine and construct uniquely Chinese and locally identifiable human rights concepts, categories, and discourses. Building an independent human rights knowledge system has become a core academic focus in China’s human rights research field. Upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground are the key methodological principles for the process. China’s human rights research should be rooted in the “cultural lineage” by preserving the essence of fine traditional Chinese culture, guided by the “moral lineage” by adhering to the Marxist view on human rights, and anchored in the “Four-sphere Confidence” by upholding a distinct human rights development path, so as to define the historical coordinates and value stance of China’s independent human rights knowledge system. Meanwhile, it should maintain a high degree of openness in knowledge, theory, and methodology to address emerging rights demands and contribute to building a new global human rights governance order, so as to underscore the mission of China’s independent human rights knowledge system in the contemporary era and China’s responsibility as a major global actor. China’s human rights research should uphold the dialectical unity between the fundamental principles and innovations, and advance the systemic and theoretical interpretation of its independent human rights knowledge.

Keywords: China’s independent human rights knowledge system · fundamental principles and innovations · China’s human rights research · China’s human rights development path · identifiable human rights concepts in China