Table of contents : Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Introduction: Legitimacy – East and West 1 Legitimacy and state Chinese “arcana imperii (secret of statecraft)” The Rites Controversy and today’s world 2 Legitimacy and oriental despotism Raison d’etat The Montesquieuian Moment The foundations of Chinese political thought The Cold War variations 3 Fictional legitimacy “Social contract” Liberalism 4 Presentation and representation: A republican dilemma Republic without plebiscite Legitimacy as presentation Republic as representation Republic as utopia 5 The deeds legitimacy: economic performance: State and economy The Weberian moment Legitimacy and monetary 6 Externalizing the Mandate of Heaven Cognitive framework China between Rome and Greece The Neo-Enlightenment rhetoric on China Concluding remarks: restarting cultural dialogue Bibliography Index