Principles And Laws In World Politics: Classical Chinese Perspectives On Global Conflict

The search for universal principles and laws in world politics is a colossal task for all civilizations, and this book explores the application of classical Chinese resources to the innovation of thoughts in contemporary Chinese international relations (IR). It contends that emancipative hermeneutics holds the key to the Chinese soft power puzzle and that a bottom-up, non-nationalistic, and non-ethnocentric approach to the Chinese civilisation will reinvent intellectual pluralism and cosmopolitan elements in the Chinese tradition that interact constructively with and ultimately transcend the liberal Western model.

Format: Hardback
Length: 524 pages
Publication date: 23 December 2021
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd

The pursuit of universal principles and laws in global politics is a monumental undertaking that transcends the boundaries of civilisations. It is imperative that this quest not be monopolised by the Western liberal paradigm. Despite the end of the Cold War, thirty years have passed, and global conflicts have yet to be resolved effectively through communism or liberalism. The implementation of humanitarian intervention, often disguised under the guise of the responsibility to protect (R2P), has caused significant destabilisation in many societies, leaving justice undone. In this thought-provoking book, we are invited to engage in debates about the post-liberal imagination of an emancipated Leviathan: a powerful political authority that employs awe and force to restore order while also upholding globally negotiated values of common conscience and reinvented cosmopolitanism. The true realisation of human well-being will only come when we harmonise pre-modern and pre-liberal ways of thinking, worldviews, ethics, and aesthetic styles through cross-civilisational, cross-disciplinary fundamental research. By allowing an emancipated Leviathan to exercise principles and laws of virtue derived from the study, we can create a world where human flourishing becomes a reality.

China serves as the focal point of this intellectual innovation, as the book explores the application of classical Chinese resources to the innovation of thoughts in contemporary Chinese international relations (IR). It examines whether Knowledge Archaeology of Chinese International Relations (KACIR), coined by the author, responds sensibly to the pressing issues of international ethics and global justice. The book contends that emancipative hermeneutics holds the key to unlocking the Chinese soft power puzzle. By adopting a bottom-up, non-nationalistic, and non-ethnocentric approach to the study of Chinese civilisation, we can reinvent intellectual pluralism and cosmopolitan elements within the Chinese tradition that interact constructively with and ultimately transcend the liberal Western framework.

In conclusion, the search for universal principles and laws in world politics is a collective responsibility that requires a diverse range of perspectives and approaches. The Western liberal paradigm should not dominate this quest, as it has failed to resolve global conflicts effectively. By embracing a post-liberal imagination that includes an emancipated Leviathan, we can create a more just and harmonious world. The application of classical Chinese resources to the innovation of thoughts in contemporary Chinese IR offers a promising path forward, as it allows us to transcend the limitations of the Western framework and forge a new path towards global harmony.

ISBN-13: 9789811232138