My dissertation project explores the genealogy of democracy, in theory and practice, in modern China. These ideas and practices are sometimes known today as Confucian Democracy, Illiberal Democracy, Consultative Democracy, and/or People's Whole Process Democracy (全过程人民民主). 

The project starts with the entry of Western political philosophy into the late Qing dynasty, including Liang Qichao, Zhang Taiyan, and Sun Yat-sen (三民主义), and other scholar's interpretations of citizenship, nationhood, and congressional legislation with direct representation. 

Next, I analyze the evolution of "Mr. Democracy" (德先生) during the New Culture and May Fourth Movements circa 1915-1926. This period saw a huge inflow and spread of ideas about democracy, socialism, and communism that greatly influenced Chinese society. 

Then, I trace the evolving ideas of the leaders of the "Third Force" anti-war umbrella organization of Democratic parties (民主党派) in the 1940s. I focus especially on the China Democratic League as the core of this grouping and Liang Shuming for his theory of a union of political parties.

I also examine Mao Zedong's interpretations of democracy and the causes and effects of the establishment of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (中国人民政治协商会议) near the end of the Chinese civil war.

My research then ends with a discussion of the 2021 China White Paper on Democracy (中国的民主) and current Party efforts, through United Front tactics, to restore the narrative of a democratic China.