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- Title
NACIONALINĖ TAPATYBĖ IR GALIOS DINAMIKA: KINIJOS REVIZIONIZMO PAIEŠKOS KONSTRUKTYVIZMO IR REALIZMO EPISTEMOLOGIJOSE.
- Authors
Macikas, Mantas
- Abstract
The rapid economic, military and technological rise of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has been the biggest change in the international system, upending the post-Cold War world order. The PRC’s second largest economy and its modern military and technological industries are a ‘consequence’ of the ‘reform and opening-up policy’ (Gǎigé kāifàng) launched in 1978, which laid the foundations for these achievements. Over three decades, 9.8% annual growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) led to China’s large-scale economic transformation and the phenomenon of its rise. In economic terms, China’s rise and the growth of its power have been driven by foreign direct investment, which in the period 1978 to 2023 exceeded €333 billion (World Bank, 2023). Politically, China has embarked on domestic reforms through the ‘peaceful rise’ (Hépíng juéqǐ) strategy, which aimed to build a new international architecture of mutual trust, cooperation and benefit with the USA. The system of international relations is shaped not only by interstate processes but also by the network of theories surrounding them. These theories enable international events and possible scenarios to be analysed. In this article, an epistemological analysis of the reasons for the growth of the PRC’s power is based on theories of constructivism and realism, juxtaposing them and highlighting the fundamental principles of national identity and power. In academic works, authors of the constructivism and realism theories (Deng, 2017; Eberhard, 2008; Mearsheimer, 2017) identify China as ‘an emerging power’ or ‘a threat to the prevailing world order and democracy’. The phenomenon of China’s rising power requires a detailed analysis to assess these two claims, and to determine which theory of international relations best describes China’s development and foreign policy objectives. The practice of international relations shows that constructivism was the most advanced achievement of political civilisation at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, helping to resolve relations between states by establishing the principle that the international system would remain stable under the domination of a sin-gle world power. Since great powers have instruments to shape international norms according to their own preferences, constructivists (Katzenstein, 1997; Adler, 2013; Deng, 2017) seek to understand the embedding of norms in international relations. According to Kissinger (2011), the actions and policies of the USA have shaped the environment in which China as an Asian superpower has grown. According to Wendt’s (1999) notion of constructivist theory, China’s rise has challenged the existing international order, and prompted a reassessment of prevailing international norms. China’s rise implies a transformation of the global power structure, and calls for a conceptualisation of the dynamics of Chinese identity. China’s national identity plays an important role in shaping its interactions with other states. Research on China’s relations with other countries needs to examine the importance of ideas, norms and identity, which is what constructivist theory analyses. A fundamental understanding of China’s rise requires a broader examination of cultural factors and historical aspects. The constructivists are able to describe in detail changes in the world order, the foreign policy of states, and their behaviour in international organisations. The rise of China is seen as a major threat to international security and democracy. J. Mearsheimer (2014), sees China’s rise as a direct threat to US hegemony, describing it as a ‘tragedy of great power politics’. The works of realist authors (Waltz, 1979; Gilpin, 1981; Brooks, 2005; Mearsheimer, 2001; Walt, 1987; Posen, 1984) on the rise of great powers, including China, are divided into two camps: offensive realism and defensive realism. Offensive realists, such as J. Mearsheimer (2014), predict a future in which war between the great powers is inevitable, adding that a rising power confronts a dominant power when the former seeks to replace the status quo of the system and institutions by force. While J. Mearsheimer (2014) argues that great powers act aggressively, K. Waltz (1978), a representative of defensive realism, argues that states act defensively in order to maintain, rather than disrupt, the balance of power. G. Alison (2017) refers to such interstate conflict as a ‘Thucydides trap’. Scholars of international relations and policy makers grapple with the question, what are the implications of China’s rising power for the future of the Western world? What trajectory seems most likely when analysing China’s foreign policy? These are questions with real policy implications for international security and the future of Western politics. The research problem: the impact of China’s rising power on the current international world order. The object of the study: China’s rising power. The aim of the study is to determine whether China is a status quo state or a revisionist state, on the basis of constructivist and realist theories. Objectives of the study: 1) To provide an overview of the historical development of China’s national identity and identity on the basis of constructivist theory; 2) To examine the implications of China’s foreign policy objectives and international relations processes on the basis of realism theory. Research methods: the paper uses historical, economic and interpretative analyses to provide an interdisciplinary overview of China’s development. It also includes an empirical analysis of academic literature, a comparative analysis, and an analysis of sources in Chinese, to avoid the limitations of the study in relation to China’s domestic and foreign policy issues. A conceptual blending approach is used, drawing on theories of constructivism and realism (defensive and offensive).
- Subjects
CHINA; NATIONAL character; REALISM
- Publication
Regional Formation & Development Studies, 2023, Vol 41, Issue 3, p40
- ISSN
2029-9370
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.15181/rfds.v41i3.2545