法治评估的技术路径与价值偏差——从对“世界正义工程”法治指数的审视切入

Technical Approach to and Value Deviation of the Assessment of the Rule of Law:A Study Based on the Examination of the Rule of Law Indices of the “World Justice Project”

世界正义工程法治指数自发布涉及我国法治状况的评估报告以来,深受我国学者关注但褒贬不一。该法治指数技术层面的非价值性特征可为我国法治评估所借鉴,但应警惕其所依循的价值。受致力于推动美国法全球化的机构资助,作为新自由主义全球化方案组成部分的"世界正义工程"法治指数成为推广美国法的新"代言人"。它的价值偏差表现为以美国法为评估标准,引发马太效应,扼杀世界法治的多元化,不利于发展中国家法治本土化建设。世界正义工程对我国法治的评估并未完全以我国法治发展现实为依据。对比相似的中外评估指标可发现,它在对西方法治精准表达的基础上并未兼顾东方法治特色,进一步印证了其所谓"普世性"的虚谬。对世界正义工程法治指数秉持理性的价值祛魅态度,在社会主义核心价值观的指导下,我国法治评估不必陷入技术之争的泥淖而更应该关注价值入侵,应在增强民族文化自信的基础上,积极开展国际合作,做到习近平总书记所要求的,"不忘本来,吸引外来,面向未来",为人类法治文明做出中国贡献。

Since its publication,the evaluation of the rule of law indices in China by the World Justice Project has drawn the attention of and caused mixed reactions from Chinese scholars.This article holds that China can draw on the technical and nonvalue aspects of the indices,but should be vigilant against the legal values embodied in them.Sponsored by many American donators who endeavor to promote American law globally and as a program of new liberalistic globalization,WJP actively endorses the American law.Even though WJP indices of the rule of law embody the common value of rule of law,some them symbolize western legal values,especially American law.Using the American law as evaluation criterion means denying legal diversification and will probably cause the Matthew Effect in the field of the rule of law worldwide,which definitely harms the construction of native rule of law in developing countries.In fact,the evaluation of the rule of law in China in WJP reports is not entirely based on facts.A comparison of similar evaluation indices shows that WJP,while giving precise expression to the western rule of law,has failed to take into consideration the characteristics of eastern rule of law,which further reveals the falseness of the socalled“universality”of these indices.Therefore,it is necessary for China to adopt a rational attitude of value disenchantment towards WJP.In the rule of law evaluation,China should not be bogged down in disputes over technicality,but should be guided by socialist core values,base itself on the confidence of national culture,actively carry out international cooperation,and endeavor to give voice to the Chinese value of the rule of law in the international arena.