Chinese View of the International Relations Theory

1300
DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-2017-61-10-76-86
T. Ponka (ponka-rudn@mail.ru),
Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, 6, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., Moscow, 117198, Russian Federation;
A. Belchenko (belchenko_as@pfur.ru),
Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, 6, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., Moscow, 117198, Russian Federation;
Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, 6, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., Moscow, 117198, Russian Federation

 

Acknowledgements. The article has been prepared as part of the 2016 Academic Research Work at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (“Non-western International Relations Theories. Asian, Latin American and African Concepts of World Order”). The authors gratefully acknowledge E. Grachikov, Associate Professor at the Chair of Comparative Political Studies, the Faculty of Political Science, Lomonosov Moscow State University, for valuable guidelines and recommendations during work on this article.


Abstract. The article considers the main trends of the international relations theory in China, namely Yan Xuetong's “Theory of Moral Realism”, Zhao Tingyang’s “Tianxia System”, and Qin Yaqing's “Realtional Theory”. The presented theories reflect the specificity of Chinese approach to the IR theory. It is possible to identify some certain similarities between them. Firstly, Chinese scholars try to build such a world order, where China will at least have a major, if not a central, role to play. Secondly, to justify the propriety and naturalness of such an order, the scientists use traditional Chinese culture, history, philosophy. Qin Yaqing and Zhao Qingyang often refer to Confucian philosophy and Yan Xuetong focuses on the Chinese thinker Sunzi. Thirdly, these scholars actively develop their own concepts, try to join Western theories and simultaneously criticize them. Regular publications of works by the proponents of the main IR theory strands in Chinese and English allow them to hold discussions with Western theorists and improve their own concepts. The authors come to a conclusion that it is premature to talk about the emergence of an integral and comprehensive Chinese international relations theory. Today we are witnessing a continued competition among different strands in the development of the IR theory in China between those who are trying to create their own theoretical framework for research, and those who study this theory using Western methodology. Even in this competition, each side makes some contribution to the creation of such a category as the Chinese School of International Relations Theory, stimulates research on international relations, which is important, since it promotes self-awareness of every intellectual group. 

Keywords: Chinese theories of the international relations, Yàn Xuetong, Zhao Qingyang, Qin Yaqing 


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For citation:
Ponka T., Belchenko A., Zabella A. Chinese View of the International Relations Theory. World Eñonomy and International Relations, 2017, vol. 61, no. 10, pp. 76-86. https://doi.org/10.20542/0131-2227-2017-61-10-76-86



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