The Leadership Myths that Shape U.S. and Chinese Power

The competition between the USA and China spans many levels. This talk examines the differences in leadership between the two countries through Jungian psychology. The USA embraces the hero archetype influenced by ancient Greek ideals and also incorporates the father archetype to a limited extent due to its Christian heritage. In contrast, China, deeply influenced by Confucian culture, maintains the significant role of the father archetype even under Communist leadership. Through comparative mythology and discussion of political discourse, this research illuminates how archetypal narratives continue to shape power dynamics in the twenty-first century. I will end with criticism of some of the excesses generated by over-identification with the two patriarchal archetypes.

 

 

WANG Pei is Assistant Professor at the School of Chinese, the University of Hong Kong. Her research interests include Confucianism, comparative philosophy and psychoanalysis. She is particularly interested in the philosophy of family, Confucian feminism and how traditional Confucian virtues can be morally justified in modern China. She has authored over thirty academic articles in English, Chinese, and French, primarily on Confucianism and comparative philosophy. Her work has been published in journals such as Philosophy & Social Criticism, China Review, Society and Jung Journal, among others.