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VOL. 8, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Transcending western individualism: Ubuntu and Confucian thought as philosophical foundations for a "community with a shared future for mankind"
Authors
Dr. Taling Tene Rodrigue
Abstract
This article examines how Ubuntu and Confucian thought provide robust
non-Western philosophical foundations for conceptualizing global community,
emphasizing mutual respect, relationality, and shared destiny as alternatives
to Western individualism. Through comparative philosophical analysis and
empirical examination of China-Africa relations, the study demonstrates that
these relational ethics offer viable frameworks for addressing contemporary global
challenges including climate change, health inequalities, and economic
injustices. Ubuntu's communitarian maxim "I am because we are" and
Confucianism's emphasis on Ren (仁,
benevolence) and Li (礼,
ritual propriety) converge in prioritizing collective well-being over atomized
self-interest. The article analyzes their theoretical implications for global
governance, explores their relevance within the Global South paradigm through
dependency theory critique, and examines their practical manifestation in
China-Africa cooperation under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)
and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This philosophical complementarity,
embodied in China's "Community with a Shared Future for Mankind"
vision, demonstrates how non-Western ethical paradigms can reshape
international relations toward multilateralism, mutual benefit, and solidarity.
Ultimately, the paper concludes that by transcending the limitations of
individualism, the communal ethics inherent in Ubuntu and Confucian thought provide
essential conceptual tools for addressing pressing global challenges, thereby
giving substantive meaning to a shared human future.
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Pages:79-95
How to cite this article:
Dr. Taling Tene Rodrigue "Transcending western individualism: Ubuntu and Confucian thought as philosophical foundations for a "community with a shared future for mankind"". International Journal of Sociology and Political Science, Vol 8, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 79-95
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