Abstracts

Development and Trend of the United Nations Environment Assembly (5)

Wang Wanfa Zhang Yanzhu

【Abstract】The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), as the world’s highestlevel decision-making body on the environment, has been relatively under-researched by scholars in terms of its development and challenges.UNEA-5 proposed fresh ideas and solutions for global environmental governance in the face of the global spread of COVID-19.The UNEA has been a key leader in addressing the global ecological and environmental crisis, strengthening international cooperation on the environment, and exercising global leadership, but it has also faced many complex governance challenges.This paper examines the origin and development of the UNEA, with a particular focus on the progress of governance and trends of UNEA-5, analyzes the recent challenges it faces,and proposes the path for the future development of the UNEA.An analysis of the past and future of the UNEA will help it play a greater role in the global environmental governance in the post-COVID era, deepen the reform of the global environmental governance with the UN as the core, and build a community of all life on earth and a community with a shared future for mankind.

【Key Words】United Nations, UNEA, UNEP, leadership, global environmental governance

【Authors】 Wang Wanfa, Ph.D.Student of the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China, whose research focuses on global climate, environmental and energy governance; Zhang Yanzhu, Senior Programme Manager at the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, whose research focuses on environmental governance and international development studies.

Profits VS Experience Sharing: Driving Forces Behind the China-Africa OETCZs (21)

Zhang Chun Zhao Yaping

【Abstract】After more than ten years of construction, the Overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (OETCZ) has become an important pillar of China-Africa cooperation.However, there is an obvious paradox in China-Africa OETCZs, i.e., the economic logic fails to explain its rapid growth as neither the business environment of the African host countries nor the profit expectations of the zones have been significantly improved.To understand the paradox better, the authors argue that the innovative experience sharing model enables both Chinese enterprises and African host countries to reduce the political, economic, and time costs of economic growth.China-Africa OETCZs feature both the sharing of Chinese experience and the creation of indigenous experience.However, due to such reasons as the lack of experience of Chinese enterprises in “going global”, the impure motivations, and the lack of adaptation with the local conditions, the innovation in experience sharing is more spontaneous than conscious, and there is still room for improvement.To promote the high-quality development of China-Africa OTCTZs, it is necessary to take advantage of the opportunities created by COVID-19, and realize profits through innovative experience sharing.

【Key Words】China-Africa relationship, Overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone,experience sharing, module innovation

【Authors】Zhang Chun, Professor of the Center for Africa Studies, Yunnan University,whose research focuses on China-Africa relations, African studies, international theory, and global development studies, etc.; Zhao Yaping, M.A.Student of the Center for Africa Studies,Yunnan University, whose research focuses on African studies, international sanction theory,etc.

Regional Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal from the Perspective of Regional International Public Goods—A Case Study of BIMSTEC (39)

Zhang He Shi Zehua

【Abstract】As the only trans-regional international cooperation organization in the Bay of Bengal, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation(BIMSTEC) has been revived after years of silence and has become an important platform for trade liberalization and economic integration in the region.BIMSTEC provides regional public goods in the Bay of Bengal, and has played a positive role in deepening regional cooperation.As a key regional power, India has always played a leading role in the BIMSTEC process and actively takes the responsibility for the supply of regional public goods through it to pursue more economic and security geo-interests, especially to gain a dominant position in the strategic competition with China.In the meantime, BIMSTEC still faces many challenges.As a “Greater Bay of Bengal” country in a broad sense, China should respond actively to the strategic needs of the vast majority of countries in the region to promote growth and development, and provide more regional public goods to the region with its own advantages to ensure the long-term friendly relations between China and BIMSTEC.

【Key Words】regional international public goods, BIMSTEC, Bay of Bengal, the Belt and Road Initiative

【Authors】Zhang He, graduate student of the School of International Relations, Beijing Foreign Studies University, whose main research fields are Indian and South Asian studies and regional cooperation; Shi Zehua, Associate Professor, School of International Relations,Beijing Foreign Studies University, whose main research fields are China-US relations and Chinese diplomacy.

From Prejudices to Relative Rationality——A Review of International Scholarship on China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation (64)

Tang Lixia Zhao Wenjie

【Abstract】The development of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation has led to a growing number of international studies on resource acquisition, cooperation models,and labor rights protection.Current literature shows that although the concept of “neocolonialism” proposed by the West is losing its influence, China’s massive acquisition of resources in Africa has been questioned by the international community.China’s “resourcesfor-infrastructure” and “elite cooperation” models have been effective but controversial.While China-Africa economic and trade relations are growing, issues such as labor rights protection and cultural differences are receiving more attention.The root of international attention to China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, however, is China’s growing influence in Africa.While early studies under the Western discourse were clearly ideological and discriminatory, with the increase of empirical studies and positive changes made by China, some rational academic analyses have presented a more balanced picture of the constructive role of such cooperation.The research methods on the topic are becoming more diversified and the views differ greatly.There is still much room for research on China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.

【Key Words】Africa, economic and trade relations, China-Africa cooperation, international scholarship

【Authors】Tang Lixia, professor of the College of Humanities and Development Studies,China Agricultural University, doctoral supervisor, whose research focuses on international development cooperation; Zhao Wenjie, Doctoral Candidate of the College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University, whose research focuses on international organizations and global governance.

Origin and Trends of Global Mutual Benefit Development (82)

Yang Jing Qiu Gengtian

【Abstract】The logic of “mutual benefit” emerged in history.Mutual benefit means that the behavior of the subject of interest benefits both the subject and the object in the chain of interest, and it is included in the process and result of the game of interest.The root cause of mutual benefit is the need for human and social evolution, the need for material exchange between humans and the environment, and the need for profit-seeking, or the “genetic drive”, “environmental drive” and “profit drive”.Under these driving mechanisms, mutual benefit runs through the whole process of social development, evolving from low to high level, from one-sided to well-rounded, and from simple to complex.The logic of mutual benefit defines the general trend of human development, but currently, the thinking and behavior pattern of “mutual harm” are prevalent.For sustainable human development and a secure future, we must move toward a higher level of mutual benefit.

【Key Words】global governance, mutual benefit, social development, coexistence,historical perspective

【Authors】Yang Jing, Ph.D.Candidate, College of Marxism, Party School of Central Committee of CPC, whose research focuses on Marxism and development philosophy; Qiu Gengtian, Professor of the College of Marxism, Party School of Central Committee of CPC,whose research focuses on the Marxist theory of social development.

Radicalization and Governance of Muslim Communities in Europe: An Analysis Based on Social Grievances (96)

Huang Yaxi

【Abstract】In recent years, “homegrown extremism” arising from the radicalization of the European Muslim community has become a serious security threat to Europe.Such extremism is inextricably linked to the living condition, mutual perception, and intergroup conflicts between Muslim and non-Muslim communities.This paper, by using the theory of social grievances, seeks to offer a new perspective to understand the radicalization of the Muslim community in Europe.The socio-economic plight of the European Muslim community and the rise of anti-Muslim prejudice in Europe have contributed to the collective resentment.The sense that they are devoid of political participation and upward social mobility has led to the intensification of such resentment, which, spreading through interpersonal and virtual networks, has culminated in an irrational outbreak of resentment mobilized by extremist groups.Therefore, European countries need to make institutional and policy changes to eradicate the “victim” mentality of the Muslim community, and create more economic and social opportunities to promote better social equality and harmony.

【Key Words】European Muslim community, Islamic radicalism, social grievance,radicalization

【Author】Huang Yaxi, Lecturer at Jiangsu Police Institute and Ph.D.Candidate at Shanghai International Studies University, whose research interests include global security governance and international law enforcement cooperation.

Russian Nuclear Energy Policy: Strategic Choice in the Perspective of Energy Transition and National Energy Sovereignty (113)

Chen Xiaoqin

【Abstract】The International Energy Agency reported in September 2020 that in the context of sustainable development, it is important to maintain the diversity of lowcarbon technologies and that nuclear energy is a useful complement to renewable power systems such as wind and solar powers, which can significantly improve the cost-effectiveness and energy security and make an important contribution to the global energy transition.Russia, which is rich in oil and gas resources, must avoid the embarrassing situation of “resource trap” if it wants to realize its dream of becoming a strong country.The core lies in not relying on energy exports, i.e., achieving full energy sovereignty, which has become an inevitable choice for its survival and development.Under the adverse impact of the global energy transition and the low oil price cycle,the Russian government has realized that its energy development model must transform from raw-material-orientation to innovation-orientation, and in this process, nuclear energy has been attached great importance—the government believes that an aggressive nuclear policy will help achieve the goal of full national energy sovereignty.Thanks to its complete nuclear industry and strong international competitiveness, Russia has been actively involved in bilateral and multilateral cooperation in nuclear energy development in recent years, and has promoted and safeguarded its economic and geopolitical interests through a series of diplomatic activities.At present, both China and Russia have a strong will to promote energy transition, achieve green development,and play a greater role in reshaping the world’s political and economic scene.While learning from the Russian experience and practice, China should fully explore the opportunities, work together with Russia to explore third-party markets, and promote a fair, equitable, balanced and inclusive global energy governance system which is open and shared by all.

【Key Words】 Russia, nuclear energy policy, energy transition, national energy sovereignty, international nuclear energy cooperation

【Author】Chen Xiaoqin, Doctor of Law, Professor of the School of International Relations, Renmin University of China, and researcher of the Russian Studies Center of Renmin University of China-St.Petersburg State University of China, whose main research interests are: international energy security, China-Russia relations, politics and economics of Central Asia, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, “Belt and Road Initiative” and other related issues.

Motivation, Process and Prospect of Brexit from the Perspective of the Type III Neoclassical Realism (132)

Li Jiacheng Zhou Zicong

【Abstract】The UK officially left the EU at the end of January 2020, which was a famous black swan event in international relations.However, whether for the UK, the EU or even the international community, Brexit is not a “final result”, but a new beginning.Brexit is undoubtedly a major setback for European integration, but whether it is a blessing, a curse,or a mixed blessing for the UK is worth exploring.This Type III Neoclassical Realism provides a unique theoretical basis and research path for exploring the motivation, process and prospect of Brexit.Brexit is a comprehensive and integral process of a series of policies between the UK and the EU.The UK will no longer be part of the EU single market and customs union after Brexit and will need to negotiate a new free trade agreement with the EU.

【Key Words】neoclassical realism, UK, Brexit, European integration

【Authors】Li Jiacheng, Associate Professor of the School of International Economics and Politics, Liaoning University, whose research focuses on major power relations; Zhou Zicong, Ph.D.Candidate of the School of Political Science and Public Administration,Shandong University, whose research focuses on British foreign policy.