The lecture titled “The Development of Human Legal Civilization and the Rule of Law in Chinese Society,” organized by the Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (IAS), was successfully held on November 22, 2024, in the Lecture Hall of the Cultural Building at the University of Macau. This event featured Professor Zhou Dawei, Distinguished Expert of the Center for Overseas Legal Studies at Renmin University of China, as the keynote speaker. The lecture was moderated by Professor Yu Xingzhong, Chair Professor of the Faculty of Law and Director of IAS.
In his lecture, Professor Zhou Dawei introduced the concept of “human legal civilization,” tracing its linguistic origins and historical evolution. He explained that human legal civilization refers to a form of civilization that, throughout human history, centers on the rule of law. It is achieved through institutionalized measures such as legislation, enforcement, and adjudication to maintain social order, promote fairness and justice, and safeguard individual rights. Professor Zhou emphasized the importance of avoiding three common misconceptions about human legal civilization: oversimplifying differing perceptions as “Western ideas,” elevating a nation’s unique practices above universal human values, and wrongly interpreting universally upheld principles as being unique to China. He argued that while culture can be diverse, civilization should converge toward commonality; civilization focuses on universality and shared principles, whereas culture emphasizes differences and particularities.
Professor Zhou then turned to issues related to China’s legal system, reviewing the historical development of law in ancient China and analyzing the unique circumstances of its modern legal evolution. He provided insights into several significant trends shaping China’s current and future legal development. These include the rapid growth and professionalization of the legal profession, a notable increase in judicial litigation, and a rising demand for more precise legal interpretation. He also highlighted the expanding scope of legal enforcement and the growing authority of the rule of law. Together, these trends illustrate how China is steadily building modern national governance capabilities, with technological innovation playing a key role in advancing its legal system. These developments are expected to further drive the maturation and growth of China’s rule-of-law society.
During the discussion, Professor Zhou highlighted that the claim of China completing centuries of Western legal progress in a few decades is inaccurate. He explained that China’s legal development largely relies on adopting international norms rather than independent innovation. While current achievements build on earlier reformers’ efforts, he noted that China’s legal progress is still ongoing and has yet to achieve full modernization.
The event attracted students and faculty members from various disciplines, fostering a lively and engaging atmosphere of discussion. This lecture provided new perspectives on the study of legal civilization and the development of the rule-of-law society in China, laying a solid foundation for future research.
