Civilisational Conflict

Abstract

China’s self-identification as a ‘civilisational-state’ poses a strategic challenge. The characterisation contests the liberal-international order’s values and norms, potentially fragmenting global standards. A strategic reassessment will require considering not only the political and economic dimensions of international relations, but also the cultural and ideological aspects that define the identities of nations and their people. The key task is to discern what is non-negotiable for both China and the West, and to avoid obliging either to compromise on what it considers its core identity.