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Revisiting the Debate on Constructing a Theory of International Relations with Chinese Characteristics*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 April 2015

Nele Noesselt
Nele Noesselt*
Affiliation:
GIGA Institute of Asian Studies. Email: noesselt@giga-hamburg.de.
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Abstract

After decades of policy learning and adoption of “Western” theories of international politics, the Chinese academic community has (re-)turned to the construction of a “Chinese” theory framework. This article examines the recent academic debates on theory with “Chinese characteristics” and sheds light on their historical and philosophical foundations. It argues that the search for a “Chinese” paradigm of international relations theory is part of China's quest for national identity and global status. As can be concluded from the analysis of these debates, “Chinese” theories of international politics are expected to fulfil two general functions – to safeguard China's national interests and to legitimize the one-party system.

提要

经过几十年的政策学习和采纳 “西方” 国际政治理论, 中国学术界开始转向建立 “中国” 的理论框架。本文分析了中国学术界对 “有中国特色” 的理论的最新论述并揭示了其历史和哲学的根源。本文论证了寻求国际关系理论的 “中国” 范式是中国追求国家认同和全球地位的一部分。从对中国学术界辩论的分析中可以得出的结论是有中国特色的国际政治理论可以发挥两个作用 - 维护中国的国家利益和巩固中国一党制及其统治的合法性。

Keywords

foreign policyChinese modelChinese school of international relationsfifth generation of political leaderslegitimation strategies中国对外战略中国模式国际关系理论的中国学派第五代合法性战略
Type
Articles
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 222 , June 2015 , pp. 430 - 448
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Copyright
Copyright © The China Quarterly 2015 

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Footnotes

*

For helpful comments on earlier versions of this article, I would like to express my special thanks to Zhang Yongjin, Shih Chih-Yu, Huang Chiung-Chiu, Wang Yiwei and Ren Xiao, as well as to the two anonymous reviewers. I would also like to thank Joanne Phillips for her circumspect copyediting of the final manuscript.

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