Quick Facts
Biography
Zhu Xueqin (born 1952) is a Shanghai-based Chinese historian and public intellectual. He is a major exponent of contemporary Chinese liberalism.
Background
Born in Shanghai, Zhu was, like so many others, shaped in his eventual outlook by China's Cultural Revolution, when he was sent to rural Lankao County, Henan as a "sent-down youth" in 1970. In 1972 he was transferred to factory work.
Taking an MA degree in history in 1985 from Shaanxi Normal University, from 1985 to 1991 he taught in the Air Force Politics Institute. In 1992 he graduated from Fudan University with a doctorate in history. From 1991 he has been a Professor in the Department of History, Academy of Letters, Shanghai University.
He wrote an article entitled "1998: The Discourse of Liberalism," which spoke of a "resurfacing" of liberal thought which was published in the widely circulated Nanfang Zhoumo [Southern Weekend].
He has participated in many public activities, such as circular letter campaigns, in support of human rights, freedom of speech, and political reform.
An interview with him entitled "For a Chinese Liberalism" is published in the book One China, Many Paths.