| Summary/Abstract |
This article deals with the philosophical foundations and historical consequences of two influential political concepts in the Far East: New Celestial Empire and Asia as Method. The author shows that politics in the Far East have been traditionally based on the categories of the Void and Transformation, which gave rise to a specific type of Utopian consciousness with its motif of universal co-being within the encompassing yet singular event. The New Celestial Empire concept reflects global aspirations of the PRC, taking into consideration local specifics. The concept of Asia as Method aims at decolonization and deimperialization in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and is popular in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The author examines the confrontation between these theories and suggests ways for their possible integration.
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