McCormick, Brett, Hayes, Anna, and Ping, Jonathan (2025) International relations theory in a post-great power world. In: Ping, Jonathan, Hayes, Anna, and McCormick, Brett, (eds.) Chinese International Relations Theory: As Emerging from Practice and Policy. Routledge, London, UK, pp. 195-203.

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Abstract

There are certain ‘fundamentals’ of how our world works—or at least how it has worked across the preceding generations and eras—fundamentals that underlie the nature and organization of all our systems—economic systems, social systems, political systems, and so forth. The 21st century may see profound changes to many or even all of these fundamentals—all within this single long generation. This provides scholars with a research opportunity. This chapter foresees a confluence of game changers within each fundamental that can profoundly change the nature of the game across all the systems. There is a steadily growing body of Chinese literature exploring and envisioning some dimensions of a distinct ‘Chinese’ system of international relations theory. There is likewise a growing body of global literature imagining the same. To a certain degree, this great unanswered question—what is Chinese international relations theory (CIRT)?—creates a wide-ranging and malleable intellectual space within which Chinese scholars and practitioners could apply their craft and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. Strategy and policy debates in places like the United States, while unrestricted and vibrant, often seem stifled and stale, struggling to keep pace with the present, let alone prepare for the future. The United States remains committed to reinforcing a liberal world order. Without overtly challenging the general status quo, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) advocates revisionist models of great power relations. Neither are likely by the late-21st century. Contrary to this false ‘Thucydides Trap,’ the real rising power may be the ‘global rest’ who may pursue an order beyond that of great power politics. The greatest advantage the Chinese or key rivals like the Americans have now is not to influence the conditions of the other—but rather the potential to influence the nature of the world their children’s countries will have to live in.

Item ID:	85587
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Research - B1)
ISBN:	9780429197697
Copyright Information:	© 2025 selection and editorial matter, Jonathan Ping, Anna Hayes and Brett McCormick; individual chapters, the contributors.
Date Deposited:	22 May 2025 01:45
FoR Codes:	44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4408 Political science > 440808 International relations @ 100%
SEO Codes:	23 LAW, POLITICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES > 2303 International relations > 230399 International relations not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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