JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

(No.4.2016)

Contents



JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

(No.4.2016)

Contents

International Relations Theory

3Qualitative Analysis in the Study of International Relations

Qualitative analysis has important methodological significance both for the study of international relations and social sciences in general. However, domestic researchers of international relations do not pay enough attention to qualitative analysis, disregarding relatively the discussion of the method of qualitative analysis in the study of international relations. This paper makes an in-depth exploration of the qualitative analysis in the study of international relations, elucidates the connotations of qualitative analysis, and traces the evolution process in which the methods of qualitative analysis have been continuously improving with the development of the discipline of international relations. It analyzes representative methods of qualitative analysis in various stages of development, such as hermeneutics, comparative case studies, comparative analysis of fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis, and process tracing, with an eye on the elaboration of the background, the evolution relationship, and the characteristics of all kinds of qualitative analysis methods. It expatiates the important meaning for the improvement of qualitative analysis in the study of international relations and the development of the discipline of international relations by reference to qualitative analysis methods in various social sciences. Finally, it discusses the new trends in which qualitative analysis methods develop with the study of international relations.

international relations, qualitative analysis, comparative case study, process tracing, causal mechanism

About the Author: Jiang Jianzhong is Lecturer at Nanjing Institute of Politics.

Jiang Jianzhong

25A Transformation of Trickle-down Pattern and Theory for Application: A Case Study of International Relations

Abstract: After the debate stage of grand theories, theoretical research on international relations began to enter a relatively stagnant stage. At the same time, the international community lacks adequate theoretical support for dealing with international issues such as climate change, counterterrorism and ethnic conflict management, therefore, the tension between the practical needs and theoretical research is increasingly apparent. At present, the study of the international relations has roughly formed an interactive pattern of the three parties, in which the university is the center to create theoretical knowledge that trickles down to the decision-making department by theoretical research on policy of the think tank. However, since the study of the theory of international relations has been committed to grand theories for a long time, this trickle-down pattern cannot provide a more specific theoretical guidance for solving problems and making policy. Under the current circumstances, while the researchers of international relations theory are participating in a macro-level meta-theoretical discussion, the decision-making department needs to create opportunities for the researchers to enter the question field and support for the researchers to carry out the construction of middle-level theories of the mechanism of problem occurrence, which can alleviate the issue of the irrelevance of the theory and policy to some extent.

Keywords: mechanism theory, middle-level theory, trickle-down pattern

About the Authors: Xing Ruilei is an associate professor at the School of Political Science and Public Administration and a research fellow at the Center of Economic Diplomacy, Wuhan University. Yang Chenguang is a researcher at the Center of Economic Diplomacy.

Xing Ruilei and Yang Chenguang

China’s Diplomacy

34An Assessment of the ASEM Cooperation Mechanism since the Turn of the Century

Abstract: Asia-Europe relationship has a long history. It took a historic turn and changed profoundly at the turn of the century. To build a new-type Asia-Europe partnership of equality with the ASEM as a symbol is a result of combined effect of various international factors. As a multi-level, multi-dimensional, and new-type international dialogue and cooperation mechanism, the achievements of the ASEM cooperation process have been increasingly apparent over the past 20 years, having a major impact on the situation of the world. Meanwhile, the defects existed in and problems faced by ASEM cooperation process are increasingly obvious as well, in which the efficiency of cooperation is the main constraint on ASEM’s real potential to be played out. It should be analyzed in a realistic manner and these issues should be handled pragmatically to promote the ASEM cooperation mechanism to develop by keeping pace with the times. The parties in both Asia and Europe need to achieve a consensus by gathering similarities and reconciling differences in the third decade of the ASEM partnership process, renewing the vitality of ASEM through practical cooperation in key areas. The Belt and Road Initiative advocated by China adds new impetus to the cooperation between Asia and Europe and the connectivity can promote a new pragmatic development of the ASEM cooperation mechanism, facilitate the ASEM to move out of the bottleneck period, and change the awkward situation in which it hardly does anything in global governance.

Keywords: ASEM, new-type Asia-Europe partnership of equality, Belt and Road Initiative, connectivity

About the Author: Yu Jianhua is Research Fellow of the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

Yu Jianhua

51An Innovation in the Concepts of Global Governance that Goes beyond Geopolitics

——An Analysis of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative

Abstract: With the rise of China, although vast opportunities created by China for market, technology and investment in the course of building the Maritime Silk Road generate tremendous buzz among the countries along the Road, a lot of questions are still raised because of China’s geopolitical sensitivity as a great power in East Asia. For a consideration of the real interests from a geopolitical point of view, one can investigate geopolitical challenges facing the construction of the Maritime Silk Road from a comparison of geographic identity and emotionality. The ultimate goal of the Maritime Silk Road Initiative is to form regional interests, responsibility and a community of destiny, to resolve the geopolitical dilemma of China in the region, and to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in the development of globalization. This paper argues to build a community of feeling by the boost of public diplomacy, and by focusing on building subjective factors of the people concerning the geographical environment, to dispel the negative impact of pure material geopolitical factors in the political practice.

Keywords: 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, geopolitical dilemma, public diplomacy

About the Author: Xie Tingting is is Lecturer at the School of International Relations/ Academy of Overseas Chinese Studies, Huaqiao University.

Xie Tingting

61The Motives, Ways of Implementation, and Existing Problems of Mongolia’s Participation in the Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract: The rise of Mongolia economy relied on mining boom. The problem of development is increasingly apparent once again in the down cycle of commodity prices. For a long time, Mongolia has been fully aware of the challenges of weak infrastructure brought to their economy. It introduced a series of policy planning for that reason. Due to a lack of capital and technology, however, the relevant planning has not been effectively promoted. As the leaders of China and Mongolia reached a strategic consensus to link the Belt and Road Initiative and the Prairie Road Initiative, the two countries will conduct a pragmatic and in-depth cooperation in specific industries. Mineral resources, the infrastructure for connectivity, monetary and finance, and the areas of sustainable development should be the key areas of industrial development for China and Mongolia to implement strategic connectivity and specific policy. These areas reflect the effective connectivity at the level of supply and demand and the complementation of their advantages in the cooperation between China and Mongolia. Nevertheless, there are still differences in cognition in many fields between Mongolia and China, so the two countries should be further enhanced communication policy in the future to promote the smooth implementation of specific projects.

Keywords: Mongolia, the Belt and Road Initiative, infrastructure, industrial capacity cooperation, mining resources

About the Author: Dr. Wang Yuzhu is Assistant Research Fellow at the Institute for World Economy Studies, China Institute of International Studies.

Wang Yuzhu

Global Governance

75An Analysis of the Dilemma and the Solution for the Development of the BRIC Countries in the Context of the Dependency Predicament

Abstract: The growth rates among the BRIC countries have been on the decline since 2012, so those countries are facing a crisis of “color fading” and the development of the BRIC countries needs to be revisited. From the perspective of unequal relations among countries, the authors argue that the BRIC countries are still in a peripheral position in the international system and their development depends on Western developed countries. In order to get out of the dependency predicament, the BRIC countries must recognize the development difficulties such as the obstruction from the international community, a lack of technological innovation on their own, and widening wealth gaps within their borders. Therefore, they should strengthen practical cooperation in terms of enhancing the consensus on development, eliminating the influence of neo-colonialism and adjusting economic structure. As the “leader” among them, the role of China is crucial to the development of the BRIC countries.

Keywords: BRIC countries, dependency theory, dilemma and solution

About the Authors: Li Yaning is a Master’s student at the School of Sociology and Political Science, Shanghai University. Lin Shaozhen is Associate Professor at the School of Philosophy and Social Development, Huaqiao University.

Li Yaning and Lin Shaozhen

Area Studies

87The Studies and Policy Views of US Think Tanks on the South China Sea

Abstract: The studies of US think tanks on the issue of the South China Sea affect the manner and extent of the intervention of the US government in the issue of the South China Sea to some extent. According to the 2015 global think tank rankings published by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the University of Pennsylvania, the Brookings Institution, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Center for New American Security are among top US think tanks of foreign policy and international affairs, and they are ranked atop in the world. Due to a long-term accumulation of theoretical research, and a wide range of academic and social influence, the research results of these think tanks on the South China Sea issue not only reflect the trajectory of the development of the definition and cognition of the Asia-Pacific interests of the United States of the American elite, but also indicate the policy direction of the South China Sea issue of the United States government. This article is intended to sort out the major thoughts of the South China Sea issue of these five think tanks, and to reveal the strategic objectives of American think tanks in policy research on the South China Sea issue, in order to provide reference for China to maintain the sovereignty of the South China Sea.

Keywords: US think tank, issue of the South China Sea

About the Author: Wu Yan is Assistant Research Fellow at Guangdong Institute for International Strategies, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.

Wu Yan

102On Compulsory Arbitration in the UNCLOS Dispute Settlement Mechanism

Abstract: The mandatory character of the dispute settlement mechanism in the UNCLOS is reflected in the aspect of “compulsory arbitration”, that is, when the parties to a dispute cannot make the same choice from the four dispute settlement modes, the procedure of arbitration will be initiated as the “residual method”. Compulsory arbitration cannot be applied in all cases, however, restrictions has been imposed on it by the UNCLOS. Seen from the perspective of practice, it seems that “compulsory arbitration” is not favored among nations, especially when the arbitral tribunal greatly expands its jurisdiction beyond the provisions of the UNCLOS. Recently, some nations refused to participate in the compulsory arbitration, such as Russia in the Arctic Sunrise Case and China in the South China Sea Case. This is the biggest issue faced by the mechanism of “compulsory arbitration” in the near future. If the compulsory arbitration cannot go back on the right track mandated by the UNCLOS, it will face more challenges in the future.

Keywords: compulsory arbitration, dispute settlement, South China Sea arbitration, Arctic Sunrise Case, non-appearance

About the Author: Wang Jia is a lecturer at the International Law Department of China Foreign Affairs University and a researcher at the sub-center of China Foreign Affairs University of the Collaborative Innovation Center for Territorial Sovereignty and Maritime Rights.

Wang Jia

114An Analysis of the Domestic Factors in the Change of America’s National Image in the Middle East and the Impact of the Change

Abstract: The Middle East has always been a sensitive point and a place of crucial importance in the global strategy of the United States. The change of America’s national image not only originates from historical entanglements but also is stimulated by the reality of regional and international situation. Nevertheless, among so many constraint variables, domestic factors, especially the building of political environment, the bipartisan wrangling in Congress, the lobbying of interest groups and the guidance of public opinion and other factors that indirectly affect America’s decision-making for the Middle East, are easily overlooked in related analyses. This paper tries to build a conversion chain of the analytical levels of “image description-analysis of domestic factors-interpretation of international influence” in terms of the image change of the US in the Middle East. Two extended judgments are made as well. Firstly, the international situation and the situation in the Middle East will surely stimulate the US to some extent to change its stereotype by adjusting its policy in order to reduce the dilemmas caused by the negative image whereby its foreign policy is in a position to go anywhere, but the driving effect of domestic policies on the change of image by adjusting policy should not be ignored. Secondly, the domestic factors not only have been giving birth to the different standards for shaping the image of the United States in the Middle East in various periods, but also show how the United States is trying to fill the vacuum created due to the transfer of the military and other hard power to other areas by means of soft power to improve the image of the country during its global strategic adjustment. This paper aims to provide positive and useful lessons for China’s Middle East policy by summarizing the success and failure of the image-shaping of the United States in the Middle East.

Keywords: Middle East, America’s national image, domestic factors, strategic pivot

About the Authors: Wang Congyue is a doctoral student majoring diplomacy at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China. He is also a participant in the PhD program jointly established by the China Scholarship Council and the Free University of Berlin. Li Qingsi is Professor at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China.

Wang Congyue and Li Qingsi

127The Evolution of India’s Act East Policy and China’s Response

Abstract: In the past 20 years, it has been successful for India to treat the Southeast Asia as a key area to advance its “Look East Policy.” Entering the third decades of the “Look East” policy, the Indian Prime Minister Modi upgraded the “Look East Policy” to the “Act East Policy”, highlighting India’s determination to expand its diplomacy eastward. The United States implements the “Asia-Pacific rebalancing” strategy, trying to make India as a second Japan. The United States encourages India to play an active role in the Asia Pacific region, trying to integrate the Southeast Asia by taking advantage of the power of India to jointly counter the rise of China; while India treats the United States as a bridge to expend the strategic objectives of the “Act East Policy” to the wider Asia-Pacific region beyond the Southeast Asia, further promoting the dream of India to be a great power. India participates in Asia-Pacific affairs as an emerging great power, so its “Act East Policy” will be inevitably intertwined with the interests of China and the US. How to effectively deal with the US-India strategic adjustment in the complicated situation in the Asia-Pacific is a question that China must think about in order to deal with the situation in the Asia-Pacific in the future.

Keywords: Look East Policy, rebalancing to Asia-Pacific, India’s Asia-Pacific strategy

About the Authors: Dr. Lou Yaping is a lecturer, and Yu Yunqing a Master’s student majoring international relations, at the School of Social Sciences, Shenzhen University.

Lou Yaping and Yu Yunqing

Academic Events

140The Asia-Europe Cooperation and the Construction of the “Belt and Road” during an Ebb of Globalization

145The Studies on the “Belt and Road” from the Perspective of the New Pattern and Multiple Disciplines