The ‘right’ in human rights: Aristotelianism and Neo-Confucianism at the basis of the EU-China Dialogue

Project Information

RIGHT

Grant agreement ID: 101019777

DOI

10.3030/101019777

Project closed

EC signature date 24 March 2021

Start date 15 March 2022

End date 14 March 2025

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 269 002,56

EU contribution

€ 269 002,56

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITA CA' FOSCARI VENEZIA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RIGHT (The ‘right’ in human rights: Aristotelianism and Neo-Confucianism at the basis of the EU-China Dialogue)

Reporting period: 2024-03-15 to 2025-03-14

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The EU 101019777 Project, titled “RIGHT: The ‘Right’ in Human Rights: Aristotelianism and Neo-Confucianism at the Basis of the EU-China Dialogue,” is a three-year global research initiative carried out by Marie Curie Global Fellow Dr. Anna Irene Baka. The initial research phase was hosted at Harvard University, while the return phase is being conducted at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. The RIGHT project seeks to develop a Conceptual Human Rights Framework by integrating two premodern philosophical traditions—Aristotelianism and (Neo)Confucianism—which the project identifies as offering valuable conceptual tools for revitalizing the currently stagnant EU-China Dialogue on human rights. The contrast in human rights perceptions—where the EU emphasizes individual liberties and China prioritizes social and economic rights—underscores the urgency of a shared theoretical framework that can accommodate these divergent foundations. To this end, the project synthesizes essential concepts from both traditions to construct a more inclusive and less confrontational understanding of human rights. Notably, the research concludes that a functional definitional human rights framework between the EU and China should not rely on rigid, ad hoc definitions shaped by culturally embedded interpretations. Rather, it should emphasize shared judicial processes—practices and procedures within each legal system—as a practical pathway for building a common and empirically grounded understanding of human rights. This orientation offers a promising avenue for aligning normative perspectives while respecting cultural and legal diversity.By contributing an innovative, philosophically and historically informed approach to global human rights discourse, the project aspires to facilitate more effective and sustained engagement between the two major global actors.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the initial 3-month secondment phase of the project, a comprehensive collection of materials highlighting the absence of a conceptual human rights framework was undertaken. This phase, conducted at Ca’ Foscari University, also included extensive research on the Aristotelian component of the project.The work on the Aristotelian component continued during the outgoing phase at Harvard University, in alignment with the project’s timeline. During this period, Dr. Baka also compiled a selective and comprehensive bibliography on Confucian and Neo-Confucian philosophy. Special attention was given to the methodologies of cultural comparison and the history of ideas, drawing heavily from the European continental philosophical tradition. During the outgoing phase, substantial progress was made toward achieving the overall objective of developing a conceptual human rights framework based on Aristotelianism and (Neo)Confucianism, which is intended to enhance the political dialogue between the EU and China. The conceptual analysis of key philosophical texts has been finalized, clearly indicating that the combined framework should incorporate the Neo-Confucian works of Zhu Xi and Wang Yangming, as well as the pre-modern philosophy of Xunzi. For the Aristotelian foundations, the critical texts have been identified primarily within Politics, the Nicomachean Ethics and the Poetics, highlighting their relevance to the framework.The project has also produced, during the outgoing phase, nine (9) dissemination deliverables, which include acceptance for publication of a monograph; an invited lecture; four (4) conference papers; the organization of an international conference organized at Harvard’s EALC Department; the proposal of a collective volume under the researcher's editorship, which is currently under discussion as well as an online course. During the outgoing phase, the project has also successfully conducted four (4) public engagement activities, including the project’s website; a dedicated Departmental post at Harvard University; a blog post on the American Philosophical Association’s blog; a series of social media posts by the Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage of the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions’ Facebook page.The exploitation strategy has so far paved the way to the channelling of the research results into four (4) intellectual products: a contracted monograph; a website; an educational module and an edited volume currently under discussion with a renowned Publisher.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The RIGHT project represents a significant advancement over existing approaches by integrating Aristotelian and (Neo)Confucian philosophies in legal theory to develop a human rights framework that respects and incorporates diverse cultural perspectives. This innovative synthesis addresses the stark differences in human rights perceptions—individual liberties emphasized in the EU versus the relational perspective on rights in China—offering a more inclusive and less confrontational basis for dialogue.
The project is set to finalize a comprehensive conceptual human rights framework that will be presented through various academic outputs, including a monograph, journal articles and papers at international conferences. This framework will potentially be promoted in policy dialogues to enhance the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. Additionally, a dedicated human rights policy tool shall be developed as part of the project to assist policymakers in evaluating the effects of legislation and policy from a culturally informed perspective. The socio-economic impact of the RIGHT project is anticipated to be substantial, facilitating improved mutual understanding and cooperation between the EU and China, thus potentially easing political tensions and fostering more stable bilateral relations. Politically, by facilitating the EU-China Dialogue, the RIGHT project is poised to substantially improve EU-China relations and directly support Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aligning with strategic priorities outlined in the new 2021-2027 EU programming (Horizon Europe). Societally, the project is expected to influence global human rights practices by promoting a more empathetic and culturally sensitive approach, encouraging global stakeholders to consider a broader array of philosophical inputs in their human rights policies. The project also aims to enrich academic and practical understanding of human rights, potentially influencing future academic curricula and contributing to a richer global dialogue on human rights. The collaboration between institutions such as Harvard University and Ca' Foscari University of Venice, along with the engagement of european and international bodies, underscores the project's capacity to impact human rights discourse at multiple levels, from local to global, from academia to policy.

Marco Polo