In recent years, there have been theoretical argues on political implementation of Confucianism, followed by the (inconsistent) government attempts to integrate it in Chinese current political system. The potential of Confucian tradition to make the system more democratic, socially stable and closer to Chinese tradition, is increasingly discussed. To provide with the understanding of the impact Confucianism might have on Chinese political development, this article examines Confucian thought in the broadest range, encompassing its theoretical alternations and revisions in institutional implementation. Through the history, Confucianism has been exposed to long lasting and numerous political manipulations, being employed as a tool for the control of society. However, it would be wrong to disregard this "politicalized" (and arguably deviated) strand of Confucianism and to confine the Confucian political thought to a narrow scale compatible to democratic values. The article argues that integrating Confucianism in current political system of ever more globalised China, could fall short as mechanism to maintain social order and as a solution for government legitimacy problem. By claiming its divergence in theory and lack of emphasis on political subject, the article questions contemporary Confucianism’s ability to fulfil the ideological vacuum left after Cultural Revolution and the lost of faith in Marxism. Therefore, the biggest impact of involving Confucianism in current political system would be on Confucian political philosophy itself with the result of disqualifying or restrain its theoretical potential to support the desirable future democratic developments. Thus, the articles aims to show that to be able to empower democratization process in China, Confucianism’s development and revision of its values ought to be left on civil society only.
