Yan Xuetong Research Articles

A New Synthesis among IR Theories? Moral Leadership in International Relations

Abstract There is currently not only a retrogression of the global economy and governance in progress but also one of international morality, which the growth of populism has destructed. Moral retrogression has yet to arouse the same level of awareness among policymakers and the public as has economic retrogression. Scholars like Yan Xuetong, Joseph Nye, and Richard Ned Lebow, however, have discerned this problem and its significance. This article compares Yan and Nye, with respect to the gradual convergence of their views on leadership, along with that of Lebow’s perceptions of morality. But how can the research agendas of a moral realist, a neoliberalist, and a constructivist converge? It is argued that deep underlying similarities exist between their views on the nature of world politics and the perceptions of the current international order that may facilitate a much broader account of the international system. The relevance of this theoretical movement to real-world events is clear. Such convergence on moral leadership both reflects the reality of a moral leadership deficit and constitutes an antidote to the current global chaos.

Национальные интересы Китая: коннотации, иерархия, балансирование

The connotations of the interests of the PRC in the official scientific and political discourse during the period of the existence of the new Chinese state first transformed from class (jieji liyi, 1949–1978) to actually national (national-state – guojia liyi, 1979–2008), and then transition to “indigenous (core) national” (hexin guojia liyi, or simply “indigenous” – hexin liyi), and this emphasis became dominant after 2012. This process reflects substantive changes in the state’s strategy. At the same time, the spatial and geographical range of his interests was expanding – from a predominant focus on domestic needs to regional and global ones. Since the 12th Chinese Communist Party Congress of 1982 declared that China would adopt foreign policy according to its national interests, the term “national interests” has been frequently used in Chinese official documents. The problems of national interests in the Chinese academic community were first raised in 1987 at the Shanghai Scientific Conference on the Theory of International Relations. In 1995, Yan Xuetong published China’s first monograph on this subject, “Analysis of China’s National Interests”, on which he worked for two years (grant from the Chinese Academy of Contemporary International Relations) after returning from the United States, where he defended his doctoral dissertation. The publication of this book even sparked a “great debate” between young scholars and traditionalists about the normative requirements for writing papers. The article shows the dynamics of changes in the national interests of the PRC, their connotations and hierarchy both in academic discourse and in the practice of Chinese diplomacy (case of Russia and Ukraine).

Sravnitel'nyj analiz modelej derzhavnosti Zbigneva Bzhezinskogo i Yanya Syuetuna

China’s economic, military and political growth led to the transformation of its identity. China’s new role in world politics and its emerging identity made scholars look for a suitable model for the rising China’s possible future hegemony. This article examines one of these models - the “humane authority” of Yan Xuetong, in comparison with the American model of hegemony described in the work of Zbigniew Brzezinski. The comparative analysis is based on the following parameters: interpretation of hegemony and the foundations of world leadership; attitude towards alliances and allies; international order and international norms; as well as the political and time context where both theories emerged.

Local Hegemony: China’s Special Economic Zones in Mauritius and Zambia

Chinese Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Africa are part of the Belt and Road Initiative. They account for a fledgling research area in International Relations, with not much research on the topic. The authors regard traditional approaches in research of SEZs as incapable of grasping the difference between domestic (designed by the state on its own territory) and foreign (designed by a foreign state) SEZs. The concept of territoriality, though applicable only to foreign SEZs, has little to offer in terms of generating new knowledge. The research paper endeavours to offer new theoretical and conceptual frameworks for the study of foreign SEZs. The research is based on concepts of hegemony by different schools of thought, including Hegemonic Stability Theory, the three types of hegemony by Yan Xuetong and Neo-Gramscianism. The authors introduce the concept of “local hegemony”. The authors also highlight the fact that most foreign SEZs emerge in territories of limited statehood (or create them). In order to prove vitality of the concept, comparative research of China’s SEZs in Mauritius and Zambia is conducted. The authors point out relatively poor institutional development of Zambia and the existence of stable democratic institutions in Mauritius. The success of the Chinese SEZ in Zambia is also partially attributed to copper mining. Deriving from economic and institutional empirical data the authors try to detect success conditions of SEZs and analyze the related spillover effects that contribute to the development of African nations. The reasons behind the failure of the Chinese SEZ in Mauritius are traced. Authors conclude that the concept of local hegemony is suitable for studying foreign SEZs and suggest that zones of local hegemony could be sustainable and effective in terms of development.

Building a Common Language in Pluralist International Relations Theories

Abstract This article aims to contribute to the gradual building of a common scientific language within the world International Relations (IR) epistemic community. The author shares the objective, indicated by many leading Chinese scholars, of a pluralist IR theory that goes beyond Western-centric mainstream theories to provide a European continental perspective. Such a perspective takes stock, on the one hand, of the legacy of Gramsci, Bobbio, and Habermas, and, on the other, of the theoretical implications of European unity as a sophisticated instance of regional cooperation. Since the dialogue must be at the highest possible theoretical level, the author selects as main partners two leading theories from the increasingly rich and internally various Chinese IR scholarship: the books recently published in English by Qin Yaqing and Yan Xuetong, who represent—not only in China, but at world level—two fundamental references in the international theoretical debate. They lead two innovative approaches: Qin’s relational theory and Yan’s theory of moral realism. The author discusses their main theses and concepts regarding IRT and global governance in a free, open, and dialectic way, notably, the balance between background cultures and multilateral convergence; and the differences between the crucial concepts of hegemony, domination, and leadership, as well as alternative perspectives on global governance within a multipolar world—a new post-hegemonic multilateralism? Or a bipolar global power structure competing for leadership?

Response to Yan Xuetong

Response to Yan Xuetong

‘International Law in Ancient China’: Eurocentrism and the Rethinking of Case Studies in Chinese Intellectual History

ABSTRACT The opening of the twentieth-first century has been a time of uncertainty. Despite many visions of the future, a Eurocentric bias is still at heart of the discourse about world order. For instance, the ‘Thucydides Trap’ as a metaphor is often borrowed by political theories to make sense of the changing relationship between China and the United States. Yet as many are turning to ancient history in the ‘West’ to find wisdom for the future, they tend to overlook the story from the other side of the globe. In this paper, I investigate a genealogy of thought that there existed an international order in ancient China. The concept sounds like an oxymoron to many people today. Yet various scholars have adopted this view as an alternative to the Eurocentric world of international relations over the course of the long twentieth century, from the Western missionary W. A. P. Martin in late Qing, the Chinese historian He Bingsong in the Republican period, to the hawkish PRC foreign policy analyst Yan Xuetong. Recalling this legacy will help us to appreciate the crucial role of political idealism in the reshuffling of international relations in a world that is increasingly leaning towards power politics.

Book Review: Leadership and the Rise of Great Powers by Yan Xuetong

Book Review: <i>Leadership and the Rise of Great Powers</i> by Yan Xuetong

Formation of the Chinese School of International Relations: Analytical Approaches and Research Methods

In 1987, the first All-China Conference of international scholars took place in Shanghai, which is associated with the beginning of the process of creating the Chinese School of International Relations. Over these decades, a vast array of scientific literature has accumulated, exploring the interaction China with other countries and world community. The article is devoted to the study of analytical approaches prevailing in the Chinese academic environment in the study of foreign policy and world politics of the PRC, and specifically, in relation to the United States. Deng Xiaoping’s “reform and openness” policy contributed to the revival of the discipline of “international relations” and the intensification of international research in academic institutions and universities in China. A deep and systemic influence on these processes was exerted by several factors: uncritical borrowing of western international political knowledge, full-scale training of Chinese scholars in Western, mainly American, universities, and the translation into Chinese of most theoretical works of Western scientists. Methodological tools which include the analytical approaches used by Chinese scientists are taken from publications on realism, liberalism and constructivism. In realism, the emphasis is done on the balance of power, which is investigated in the framework of foreign policy analysis. The interdependence of China and the United States, primarily economic, the subject of study from the point of view of neoliberalism. The socialization and involvement of China in the world community and the liberal world order led by the United States are constructivist studies of bilateral relations. Yan Xuetong’s “theory of moral realism”, Qin Yaqing’s “theory of relations”, the Shanghai school’s “international symbiosis”, and Tan Shiping’s “social evolution of world politics” did not go beyond these paradigms, but are already used as their own innovative methods in a study of China’s relations with external actors. The article pays special attention to the dual identity of the Chinese state, as a developing country and a global power, which is publicly voiced by its representatives. This duality imposes regulatory restrictions on the use of analytical tools and, of course, affects the results of research.

From Heaven to Earth: ‘Cultural Idealism’ and ‘Moral Realism’ as Chinese Contributions to Global International Relations

Abstract The discipline of International Relations (IR) is increasingly being criticized for ignoring and marginalizing states and societies outside of the core countries of the West. The idea of a ‘Global IR’ has been proposed since 2014 a pathway toward a bridging the ‘West and the Rest’ divide and thus develop a more inclusive discipline, recognizing its multiple and diverse foundations. At the same time, there is a trend toward developing theories, or ‘schools’, on a national or regional basis, the leading examples of which come from China. This article examines some theoretical constructs emerging in China, such as the ‘Relational Theory’ of Qin Yaqing, who is the foundational scholar in the ‘Chinese School of IR’, the Tianxia (‘all under Heaven’) concept as applied to IR and world order by Zhao Tingyang, and ‘Moral Realism’ of Yan Xuetong, who is the leading figure of the ‘Tsinghua School’. To many scholars, both inside and outside China, the relationship among the various Chinese approaches and their overall contribution to the IR field remain unclear. Without claiming to capture all their nuances and complexity, this article hopes to stimulate a conversation among scholars, Chinese and foreign, with a view to generate greater clarity and highlight their importance to the study of IR. I argue that while making important contributions, the Chinese approaches to International Relations Theory (IRT) also face a number of challenges. This includes the need for them to offer more convincing proof that the concepts and explanations they propose can apply to other societies and to IR more generally. Moreover, there is the need for these approaches to attract a critical mass of followers worldwide, stimulate a research agenda for other, especially younger scholars, and distance themselves from the official Chinese policy framings. The Global IR approach offers a helpful framework for highlighting and perhaps addressing these challenges, especially in avoiding cultural exceptionalism and ensuring their wider relevance beyond China.

Leadership and the rise of Great Powers

The ongoing confrontation between the United States and China has highlighted the current deficit in international leadership. A theoretical tour de force, Leadership and the rise of Great Powers by Yan Xuetong, which aims to explore international leadership and the mechanisms behind power transitions, could not be more timely. The book further develops Yan's previous works on moral realism and draws on political determinism in ancient Chinese philosophical thought. The author attributes the rise and fall of Great Powers to political leadership, which he defines as the ability of the government to meet its domestic duties and hold international ‘strategic credibility’, without which a country cannot wield global authority. Yan identifies four types of international leadership: humane authority, hegemony, anemocracy and tyranny. For him, the ideal type is humane authority, as it is trustworthy and consistently generates policies which others would want to follow. This corresponds to Joseph Nye's...

Book review: Yan Xuetong, Leadership and the Rise of Great Powers

Yan Xuetong, Leadership and the Rise of Great Powers. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2019, pp. 280. ISBN 9780691190082.

To Rejuvenate, China Must Continue Opening Up

New Perspectives QuarterlyVolume 35, Issue 4 p. 17-20 Original Article To Rejuvenate, China Must Continue Opening Up YAN XUETONG, YAN XUETONG Dean of the Institute of International Relations at Tsinghua University and author of “Ancient Chinese Thought, Modern Chinese Power.” This article is a translated adaptation of an essay in the “Quarterly Journal of International Politics.”Search for more papers by this author YAN XUETONG, YAN XUETONG Dean of the Institute of International Relations at Tsinghua University and author of “Ancient Chinese Thought, Modern Chinese Power.” This article is a translated adaptation of an essay in the “Quarterly Journal of International Politics.”Search for more papers by this author First published: 01 November 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/npqu.12170AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Volume35, Issue4October 2018Pages 17-20 RelatedInformation

ДРЕВНОСТЬ НА СЛУЖБЕ СОВРЕМЕННОСТИ: ТЕОРИЯ МОРАЛЬНОГО РЕАЛИЗМА ЯНЬ СЮЭТУНА И БУДУЩЕЕ МИРОВОГО ПОРЯДКА

Recently Chinese IR scholars have been debating the need to create their own original theory of international relations, which is traditionally dominated by Western scholars. One of the key contributors to the ongoing debate is Yan Xuetong, the professor of Tsinghua University. In 2005 he started a research project, which aim was to enrich international relations with non-Western thought and historical experience. He analyzed Chinese classical texts from the Pre-Qin era and evaluated their applicability to the analysis of modern international relations. In 2014 he formulated the theory of moral realism, which combined main assumptions of realism with new concepts derived from the ancient Chinese thought. The main goal of the theory and related research questions is to provide an alternative explanation of China’s rise and the future of the world order. In this article, the authors analyse the key concepts of the theory presented in different publications of Yan Xuetong: morality, political strength, power, types of leadership and types of major power. The key concept of the theory is morality, which is borrowed from the ancient Chinese philosophy. Moral behaviour in domestic and international politics increases strength and comprehensive power of a state on the international arena, while moral qualities of the major power shape the world order and determine international stability. The authors examine practical recommendations built upon the moral realism theory that Yan Xuetong gives to the Chinese leadership. From a scientific point of view, the theory is criticized for the lack of clear definitions, for contradictions and biases, but it is valuable because it reflects the thinking of major Chinese intellectuals.

CCP ELITE PERCEPTION OF THE US SINCE THE EARLY 1990S: WANG HUNING AND ZHENG BIJIAN AS TEST CASES

This article juxtaposes two of the most influential yet under-studied America watchers within the top echelon of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Wang Huning and Zheng Bijian. To be sure, the two have indelibly shaped CCP attitudes, yet surprisingly enough, although Zheng has been written about extensively in the English language, Wang has hitherto largely remained outside academics’ purview. This article also aims, in passing, to explore linkages between Wang and Zheng ideas and those of other well- known America watchers like Liu Mingfu and Yan Xuetong. The comparison offers clues as to the extent to which the current advisory shaping CCP thinking on the US differs from the previous generation, and as to whether CCP thinking is un-American or anti-American in essence. The conclusions ties the study together by arguing, based on Wang and Zheng's views, that New Confucianism may shape Chinese society in the future

КИТАЙСКИЙ ВЗГЛЯД НА ТЕОРИЮ МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫХ ОТНОШЕНИЙ

The article considers the main trends of the international relations theory in China, namely Yan Xuetong&#39;s &ldquo;Theory of Moral Realism&rdquo;, Zhao Tingyang&rsquo;s &ldquo;Tianxia System&rdquo;, and Qin Yaqing&#39;s &ldquo;Realtional Theory&rdquo;. 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.&nbsp

China’s Troubled Waters: Maritime Disputes in Theoretical Perspective, by Steve Chan. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016. 250 pp. US$99.99 (cloth).

<i>China’s Troubled Waters: Maritime Disputes in Theoretical Perspective</i>, by Steve Chan. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016. 250 pp. US$99.99 (cloth).

Which Dream for the Silk Road Initiative? Learning from the History of the Colombo Plan, Yan Xuetong and Chinese Ancient Thought

Which Dream for the Silk Road Initiative? Learning from the History of the Colombo Plan, Yan Xuetong and Chinese Ancient Thought

THE DYNAMICS OF CHINESE FOREIGN POLICY THROUGH THE PRISM OF NATIONAL INTERESTS

The article is devoted to the analysis of the dynamics of China's foreign policy through the prism of understanding the changes in its national interests as understood by the Chinese leadership. It includes a brief description of the approaches to the analysis of the national interests by Western authors and its comparison with the Chinese tradition. Analysis of China's foreign policy changes during the transition from the fourth to the fi fth generation of Chinese leaders is given through the tenets of the Chinese international relations scholar Yan Xuetong theory. The main conclusion of the article is that the recent assertiveness of the Chinese foreign policy is the result of country’s successes in achieving economic goals, which made it possible to shift priorities from providing economic growth to conquering the leading position in the world.

Primacy or World Order? The United States and China's Rise—A Review Essay

How should the United States respond to China's rise? What are China's longterm strategic goals? What are the implications of U.S.-China strategic interactions for world order? Three recent works—Aaron Friedberg's A Contest for Supremacy, Hugh White's The China Choice, and Yan Xuetong's Ancient Chinese Political Thought, Modern Chinese Power—grapple with these questions in authoritative and revealing ways. This review essay examines the answers provided by these authors, with the aim of clarifying the different underlying assumptions that led them to their conclusions. Four themes are found to be especially pertinent. These are the assumptions the authors hold about the existing distribution of power, China's strategic objectives, the role of economic interdependence in Asia, and the relationship between democracy and political legitimacy. The way the authors parse these themes—which ones they bracket or admit into their analysis, and how they weigh and combine them—helps to reveal the underlying bases of their and, by implication, our policy preferences. The essay concludes by suggesting that contrary to the view of some, time has something to offer both sides. And if those opportunities are properly understood by the United States and China, the prospects for peaceful competition and coevolution improve.