China and Emerging Economies in Global Financial Governance:Legitimacy,Accountability and Democracy

Global financial governance refers to the way in which global financial affairs are managed. As there is no global government, global financial governance typically involves a range of actors including states, as well as regional and international organizations aimed at negotiating responses to problems that affect more than one state or region, far from only providing the public good of financial stability through global economy integration and global financial legislation. In geopolitical context of the 21 st century, emerging economies still have maintained a low profile in global financial governance, despite their growing economic power and the rhetoric of being a responsible great power, and there is little evidence that they will seek international leadership. Moreover,compared to the other emerging powers in the BRICS(Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) group,China has under-participated in global governance in terms of contributing personnel, finance and ideas to major multilateral institutions and programs. It is really an interesting question in international economics and politics area. Firstly, this paper examines comparative data on the emerging economies countries' participation in global financial governance and explains the reason why China has relatively low involvement in global financial governance. Secondly, this paper analyzes norms and legitimacy in global financial governance, and thus outlines the emerging economies constraints on public policy of global financial market integration in the light of the foregoing analysis of legitimacy, accountability and democracy. Finally, some global financial governance development strategy and possible policy solutions are discussed as well.

全球金融治理:赤字膨胀和必要改革

In recent years,due to the complex interplay of cyclical,structural,geopolitical,geoeconomic,and public health factors,the demand for global financial governance(GFG)has risen to new heights.The global foreign exchange market is undergoing disruptive adjustments;low-income countries are rapidly approaching a debt crisis;the gap in international development finance is widening;and the ongoing Ukraine crisis threatens to fragment and fracture the global economic and financial system.However,the current GFG system cannot address the above issues responsibly and effectively.This is largely because the system is a loose cooperation web based on soft laws instead of a closely integrated mechanism guided by hard rules.Reform on multiple fronts is required to improve the quality and relevance of GFG.This includes refocusing on key issues and ensuring that the system functions as a whole,prioritizing development,modernizing the international debt resolution framework,advancing the reform of international financial institutions,and thinking outside the box.Despite China’s late entry into the GFG system,it is an ardent advocator of international development cooperation,an active promoter of green finance,and a responsible participant in international efforts to address the debt crisis.With its Belt and Road Initiative,Global Security Initiative,Global Development Initiative,and unique path to modernization,China has offered the world an alternative development path while breathing new life into the old GFG system.

中美金融竞争的维度与管控

During a period of profound adjustments to the international power structure,China-US financial competition may intensify and lead to a crisis for the international financial system and even the international power system.The China-US financial relationship is structured in mainly four dimensions:the international monetary system,bilateral financial exchanges,the international financial system and the construction of international financial and/or economic concepts.Management of this competition relationship is thereby four-pronged:managing the relationship between the RMB and the US dollar in the international monetary system,the China-US bilateral creditor-debtor relationship,the indirect China-US relationship in global financial governance organizations and normative frameworks,and the divergence of both countries in regard to their economic ideologies.In particular,to stabilize the international monetary system,China should postpone the strategic confrontation between the RMB and the US dollar,strengthening their complementarity and cooperation based on market choice and their monetary function.Meanwhile,China should be prudent as a creditor to the United States,neither coerced by its over-reliance on American financial markets,nor tempted to weaponize the US debt by dumping US bonds.Also,before aiming for systematic reforms,China should first aim to become a stakeholder in the current global financial governance system by comprehensively accepting and becoming deeply integrated into it.Finally,China should avoid the economic competition model between China and the United States,and should instead apply the“Chinese Approach”to better facilitate solutions to international problems.These approaches to crisis management aim to help China endure this turbulent period of the international power system with more prudent strategies and policies,and to maintain a relatively stable international financial and economic environment for the sustained rise of its economy and for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.