The three mainstream International Relations theories that have arisen in the past thirty years, structural realism, neo-liberal institutionalism and structural constructivism, have all missed an important dimension, ...The three mainstream International Relations theories that have arisen in the past thirty years, structural realism, neo-liberal institutionalism and structural constructivism, have all missed an important dimension, i.e., the study relational complexity in international society. of processes in the international system and of This paper, informed by social constructivism and Chinese philosophical traditions, aims to make up for this missing link and develop a theoretical model of processual constructivism by incorporating and conceptualizing two key Chinese ideas - processes and relations. ＂Process,＂ defined as relations in motion, can stand on its own, has its own dynamics, and plays a crucial role in international relations. The core of process, by definition, consists in relations. If ＂rationality,＂ rooted in individuality, has been a key concept for Western society, then its counterpart in Chinese society can be ＂relationality.＂ Conceptualizing relationality and treating it as the theoretical hard core, processual constructivism holds that relational networking in international society helps nation-states form their identities and produces international power. Processual constructivism is an evolution theory at systemic level, focusing on interactive practices among states and emphasizing the independent ontology of social processes which play a meaningful role in constructing international norms and state identities.展开更多
It is universally acknowledged that while students of International Relations have probed deeply into alliance theory in the past half century,current literature in this field can hardly explain the informal mechanism...It is universally acknowledged that while students of International Relations have probed deeply into alliance theory in the past half century,current literature in this field can hardly explain the informal mechanism for Syria-Iran Security Cooperation.To unravel the puzzle,this paper proposes a new hypothesis:Quasi-alliance.Based on an empirical study of Syria-Iran relations in the past three decades,it reveals that Quasi-alliance is a unique mode for security cooperation in international arena paralleling with formal alliance,and its security arrangement has unique logic,dynamics,mode of management and attributes.In the new framework of analysis,this paper considers the fundamental characteristics of Quasi-alliance formation,management,efficacy and prospect by focusing on the empirical study of the Syria-Iran Quasi-alliance from 1979 to 2009.The bilateral Quasi-alliance practice has undergone three stages of combating Iraqi aggression in the 1980s,curbing the Israel-Turkey Axis in 1990s and balancing the US-Israel coalition in the 21st century.展开更多
Even though the foregoing theories on international relations give different interpretations on this issue,they are actually interactional and overlapping.Also they seem to share more and more common features.With the...Even though the foregoing theories on international relations give different interpretations on this issue,they are actually interactional and overlapping.Also they seem to share more and more common features.With the acceleration of economic globalization since the end of the Cold War,nation states are increasingly interdependent in the energy sector while competition and coordination become the mainstream of international energy politics.Consequently all parties have put growing importance on international energy cooperation and its institutional construction.They believe that energy security should be achieved through international cooperation and coordination,for it is closely linked with sustainable development of economy and society as well as the external political and economic relations of nation states.展开更多
The topic of the paper is the Chinese view of world order and the concept of Tianxia （all under heaven ）. The objective is to analyze how contemporary Chinese scholars currently discuss and perceive this concept. In...The topic of the paper is the Chinese view of world order and the concept of Tianxia （all under heaven ）. The objective is to analyze how contemporary Chinese scholars currently discuss and perceive this concept. In fact, several Chinese scholars are proposing to replace the existing international system with an updated version of the Tianxia system. This paper will describe the salient characteristics of Tianxia as an ideal and practice in China since early times, and examine recent Chinese literature on this subject. It will also analyze the related debate on the existence of a Chinese International Relations Theory（IRT）. The formation of an autonomous IRT would epitomize a new and clearer definition of the Chinese role in the international framework.展开更多
文摘The three mainstream International Relations theories that have arisen in the past thirty years, structural realism, neo-liberal institutionalism and structural constructivism, have all missed an important dimension, i.e., the study relational complexity in international society. of processes in the international system and of This paper, informed by social constructivism and Chinese philosophical traditions, aims to make up for this missing link and develop a theoretical model of processual constructivism by incorporating and conceptualizing two key Chinese ideas - processes and relations. ＂Process,＂ defined as relations in motion, can stand on its own, has its own dynamics, and plays a crucial role in international relations. The core of process, by definition, consists in relations. If ＂rationality,＂ rooted in individuality, has been a key concept for Western society, then its counterpart in Chinese society can be ＂relationality.＂ Conceptualizing relationality and treating it as the theoretical hard core, processual constructivism holds that relational networking in international society helps nation-states form their identities and produces international power. Processual constructivism is an evolution theory at systemic level, focusing on interactive practices among states and emphasizing the independent ontology of social processes which play a meaningful role in constructing international norms and state identities.
基金supported by the National Social Science Foundation Project“Quasi-alliance Diplomacy and China’s Security Strategy”(07CGJ003)financed by Fund for Stage III of SHISU“211”Project operated by the Ministry of Education,PRC.
文摘It is universally acknowledged that while students of International Relations have probed deeply into alliance theory in the past half century,current literature in this field can hardly explain the informal mechanism for Syria-Iran Security Cooperation.To unravel the puzzle,this paper proposes a new hypothesis:Quasi-alliance.Based on an empirical study of Syria-Iran relations in the past three decades,it reveals that Quasi-alliance is a unique mode for security cooperation in international arena paralleling with formal alliance,and its security arrangement has unique logic,dynamics,mode of management and attributes.In the new framework of analysis,this paper considers the fundamental characteristics of Quasi-alliance formation,management,efficacy and prospect by focusing on the empirical study of the Syria-Iran Quasi-alliance from 1979 to 2009.The bilateral Quasi-alliance practice has undergone three stages of combating Iraqi aggression in the 1980s,curbing the Israel-Turkey Axis in 1990s and balancing the US-Israel coalition in the 21st century.
文摘Even though the foregoing theories on international relations give different interpretations on this issue,they are actually interactional and overlapping.Also they seem to share more and more common features.With the acceleration of economic globalization since the end of the Cold War,nation states are increasingly interdependent in the energy sector while competition and coordination become the mainstream of international energy politics.Consequently all parties have put growing importance on international energy cooperation and its institutional construction.They believe that energy security should be achieved through international cooperation and coordination,for it is closely linked with sustainable development of economy and society as well as the external political and economic relations of nation states.
文摘The topic of the paper is the Chinese view of world order and the concept of Tianxia （all under heaven ）. The objective is to analyze how contemporary Chinese scholars currently discuss and perceive this concept. In fact, several Chinese scholars are proposing to replace the existing international system with an updated version of the Tianxia system. This paper will describe the salient characteristics of Tianxia as an ideal and practice in China since early times, and examine recent Chinese literature on this subject. It will also analyze the related debate on the existence of a Chinese International Relations Theory（IRT）. The formation of an autonomous IRT would epitomize a new and clearer definition of the Chinese role in the international framework.
