(East-West Question) Wang Yiwei: Why is it said that the West "invented" rather than "discovered" the theory of international relations?

  China News Agency, Beijing, March 1, Question: Wang Yiwei: Why is it said that the West "invented" rather than "discovered" the theory of international relations?

  Author: Wang Yiwei, Vice President of the Institute of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Renmin University of China, and Professor of the School of International Relations

  International relations theory is a Western theory. Its concepts, systems, and logic all originate from the West, reflecting Western thinking.

The West did not "discover" but "invented" the realism, liberal institutionalism, constructivism and other schools of international relations theory, which reflect the Western world or the Westernized world. Therefore, all kinds of debates on international relations theory belong to the Western Christian world. Internal disagreements.

In December 2021, a Chinese boxer who worked hard in the American professional boxing world participated in a training session in a boxing gym in New York.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Liao Pan

Why is it difficult for international relations theory to get rid of its Westernness?

  When it comes to international relations theory, people often equate it with the Western world headed by European and American countries, that is, "Western international relations theory", which leads to the understanding that international relations theory "originates from the West and belongs to the world." "Discovered" the theory of international relations, and its theoretical interpretation and application are of worldwide and universal significance.

However, the analysis of the most primitive and classic realism theory of international relations theory can show that the West has not "discovered" but "invented" the theory of international relations, and at the same time, it shows obvious Western characteristics.

  First, strong Christian overtones.

Modern international relations are built on the basis of the Westphalian system initiated by the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), that is, European Protestantism defeated Catholicism and established a sovereign state, establishing basic concepts such as nation-state, sovereignty, and diplomacy.

The author pointed out in the preface "Realism is Christian Theory" of the new edition of "The Tragedy of Great Power Politics" that the Renaissance and the Enlightenment promoted the liberation of human nature from divinity, and the Thirty Years War released the nationality, giving birth to modern international relations. concept, international relations have become the product of the expansion of Christian civilization, deducing the transition of power, war and peace within the Christian world, while externally it is brutal expansion, plunder, and colonization.

After the end of the Cold War, American scholar Huntington put forward the "Clash of Civilizations Theory", which is essentially a worry about the challenges brought by the revival of non-Christian civilization to Christian civilization.

Over the years, the United States and the West have implemented a policy of engagement with China in an attempt to assimilate China, which reflects the concept of conversion in Western religions.

In recent years, the United States has declared China a systemic rival, claiming that it is a "confrontation between democracy and autocracy" with China, and that the future of mankind depends on "the struggle between the two camps and the struggle between the side that denies God and the side that believes in God." Further explain the religious monism connotation of its foreign policy.

  Second, Western-centrism maintains the vested interests and discourse hegemony of the West.

International relations theory in Europe emphasizes sociality and is less religious than the United States, but it cannot abandon its western character, and its dualistic and expansionary background is obvious.

Based on the "universal values" of Christian monotheism, it brings the exclusivity, homogeneity, and negative externalities of Western international relations theory. In China, theoretical practitioners try to promote the so-called "universal values" of the West in the world, which is actually foreign expansion, colonization or interference in the internal affairs of other countries, which will cause great harm.

  Third, the inextricable colonial and racist shadows serve the strong.

In the history of globalization and modernization dominated by the West, the logic of linear evolution permeates its theoretical thinking, and believes that other countries should follow the Western development path, and more should follow the Western norms.

This kind of discourse hegemony actually serves its own interests. For example, in the terminology of international relations, the so-called "Thucydides trap" and "Kindleberger trap" and other "trap theories" are essentially "China traps", while racism is a Deep concepts under the "iceberg" of his international relations theory.

In recent years, China has set things right and cleaned up the source of core concepts such as human rights, freedom, democracy, and multilateralism, and has begun to take the initiative to break the monopoly of Western discourse and theoretical myths.

  Fourth, the logic of division rather than the overall thinking, seeking profoundness in one-sidedness, and method first.

Science is a sub-discipline, but international issues are comprehensive and cannot be cut down.

Some people often ask which international relations theory should be used to explain the Belt and Road Initiative and the community with a shared future for mankind. It is ironic that the problem that cannot be explained by existing theories is propaganda.

How to transcend the Western nature of international relations theory?

  Humanity is facing a major change unseen in a century, and is in a critical period from industrial civilization to digital civilization and ecological civilization.

At present, China is deeply involved in and leading globalization, proposing the "Belt and Road" initiative and the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, and advocating international consensus such as common values ​​for all mankind.

In this process, it is both possible and inevitable to produce a theory of Chinese international relations that adapts to the development of the times.

  But mindset shifts often lag behind the economic landscape.

The current international system is still dominated by the West, and human beings live in a Westernized world.

The so-called Westernization of the world means that other countries act in accordance with Western laws and under the influence of the West.

If non-Western countries use the Western world as a frame of reference and seek their own theoretical expression of international relations, they can only be reduced to "glocal theory".

If only the historical tradition or culture of China (such as the thoughts of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period) is used to verify and enrich and improve the Western international relations theory, it is only "I comment on the six classics", and the result is often a "self-fulfilling prophecy", which cannot form a real China. International Relations Theory.

  To transcend Western international relations theory, we must not only transcend its Western nature, but also transcend the theory itself, return to the humanistic worldview, and explore the questions of the times such as “whose global governance should be governed for” and “whose globalization is globalization”.

  As an ancient eastern civilization, the largest developing country, and a socialist country that is achieving great rejuvenation, China is transcending the Western theory of international relations in three aspects: First, ideologically, it has surpassed the Western monotheistic "universal" value”, and replace it with the harmonious thinking of “one more, no distinction”; the second is in terms of history, surpassing the Western linear evolutionary historical view, and replacing it with a holistic world view, including the view of safety (if you are safe, I will be safe, if you are safe, so I will Security, our security), development concept (inclusive development, sustainable development, common development), cooperation concept (equal cooperation, open cooperation, inclusive cooperation), civilization concept (transcending the barriers of civilization through exchanges of civilizations, and transcending through mutual learning of civilizations) Clash of civilizations, the coexistence of civilizations surpasses the superiority of civilizations), ecological outlook (the unity of nature and man surpasses anthropocentrism).

The third is to go beyond the Western international relations theory's genes of serving the strong, capital, and vested interests, emphasizing people-centeredness and a shared destiny for mankind.

On February 4, 2022, at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the main torch of the Winter Olympics with the names of the delegations from each country was lit.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Mao Jianjun

How to prepare "China's answer" to "the question of the times"?

  The great rejuvenation of China will naturally produce a Chinese style, a Chinese-style academic system, a discourse system and a theoretical system.

China advocates learning from the beneficial achievements of all human civilizations, not just learning from the advanced achievements or advanced civilizations of the West, or "dressing up our tomorrow with someone else's yesterday".

Therefore, the theory of Western countries should be creatively inclusive and transcended.

In the new era, China emphasizes "two combinations", that is, the combination of the basic principles of Marxism with China's concrete reality, and the combination of the excellent traditional Chinese culture. It is not only to learn from the excellent achievements of human civilization, but also to produce real results in the context of Chinese history and culture and China's national conditions. Theoretical transcendence in the sense.

  Transcending Western international relations theory is not only beyond its Western nature, but also beyond the theory itself, establishes the concept of a big era, a big pattern, and a big role, and raises the theory of international relations to the height of Chinese civilization and human civilization. Questions of the times, such as "governing for whom" and "whose globalization is globalization", restore the people-centered world leader and view the world from the perspective of the world.

For example, China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative and the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind have gone beyond the level of China's relationship with the world, focusing on the question of the times and the answer of China, and have become a clear banner leading the trend of the times and human progress, providing a truly universal all mankind. theoretical system.

  Finally, in order to realize the true dialogue between Chinese and Western civilizations and mutual learning between civilizations, we need to pay attention to three points: First, we need to break down the binary opposition and inequality of civilizations, so that different civilizations can communicate on the basis of equality, independence and mutual respect; Second, all ethnic groups and cultures in the world need to rejuvenate together, and a hundred flowers bloom in spring to restore the diversity of the world; third, civilizations must not only learn from each other or learn from each other's strengths, but also contribute collective wisdom to solving human problems.

  China has created a new form of human civilization, and the same is true of other countries. Therefore, China has always adhered to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in the dialogue and mutual learning of civilizations, emphasizing the common values ​​of all mankind.

Countries should solve human problems in the process of solving their own problems, and show their own theoretical characteristics in the process of solving human problems, not the other way around.

(over)

In 2021, the staff will invest in the construction of the external power supply project of the China-Laos Railway.

The "China-Laos Railway" connecting Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, and Vientiane, Laos will be fully operational on December 3, 2021.

Photo by Zhou Zhiwang issued by China News Agency

About the Author:

  Wang Yiwei, EU "Jean Monet" Chair Professor, Vice President of the Institute of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Renmin University of China, doctoral tutor at the School of International Relations.

He is a leading talent in philosophy and social sciences under the National "Ten Thousand People Program", a cultural master of the Central Propaganda Department and a "four batches" talent, and a former diplomat of the Chinese Mission to the European Union.

He is the author of "The World's Questions, China's Answers: A Community with a Shared Future for Mankind" (a key reading book published by the Central Propaganda Department), "From Freehand Brushwork to Fine Brushwork: Theory and Practice of the Belt and Road", and "How to Meet People at the Turn of the State: China in the New Era" The Way of Public Diplomacy", and the monograph "The Belt and Road: Opportunities and Challenges" and "The World is Connected - The Logic of the "Belt and Road"" won the 2015 and 2016 China Good Books.

He has delivered keynote speeches on "A Community with a Shared Future for Mankind" and "One Belt One Road" at the UNESCO headquarters and the side events of the United Nations General Assembly.