Quest for Modernity and the Tides of History } 785
simply too intelligent and creative not to claim them as their own. But “even-
tually” may be a while. Anti-liberal thought has already won several rounds
of struggle for the soul of China, as it has in other lands. There may be further
detours, even, God forbid, disastrous ones, before China becomes a modern
nation in which its citizens enjoy political rights protected by law from the
state and in which its citizens can choose and change their rulers. But when
that happens, China will become a true world leader.