Ideological deconstruction of the confucian revival in Chinese education: A search for democratic civics education

The resurgence of Confucianism in Chinese education in recent decades is intertwined with the party-state’s ongoing ideological crusade to maintain the political status quo. This study examines the incorporation of Confucianism into China’s mandatory civics curriculum and how students perceive it based on their diverse sociocultural backgrounds. The analysis draws on data from civics textbooks and semi-structured interviews with university students. A critical discourse analysis of textbooks reveals that Confucianism is appropriated both as a moral-political framework that validates and promotes certain moral virtues and political ideologies and as a national cultural framework to advance a nationalist discourse. However, student voices offer a critical perspective. Accordingly, we argue for a deconstruction of the politicization surrounding the revitalization of Confucianism, situating this ancient tradition within a multicultural and democratic framework. The diverse perspectives presented by students highlight the potential of teaching Confucianism to foster inclusiveness and democracy in civic learning. Copyright © 2025 Journal of Moral Education Ltd.