On the Features of Contemporary Regrouping of International Forces

<正>The co-relation of international forces is evolving in favor of developing countries with emerging powers as their representatives,which is unprecedentedly shaking the Western powers' dominance of world affairs.The regrouping of international forces is forming the Four Groups of gaining,defending,losing and weakening forces.The Four Groups are coping with the global problems on their respective and common positions,greatly enriching the connotation of peace and development with contemporary dimension,and giving historical task of building international system to regional and sub-regional cooperation.Although the Four Groups are still in dynamic development with proper adjustments of formation within and between themselves with different issues and at different times,the emerging powers are gaining on as world trends.While on the road towards a global power,China needs to take Emerging Powers as its strategic backup and strive for greater rights of discourse and leading roles.However,the international society should be fully prepared both intellectually and physically for the prolonged,complicated and uneven processes of regrouping of international forces and the transforming of international system in the context of peaceful conditions.     

国际经济体系与地缘政治:金融危机及其影响

Global financial crisis is ongoing. The crisis has not only impacted the mode of the world economy that further called for reform of international economic system, but also exerted far-reaching impact on the transformation of the international political system and geopolitics. China, undergoing a critical period of reform anddevelopment, is obliged to probe the essence of the crisis and its prospective impacts, to discern the direction of the transforming international political system and geopolitics, and ...     

A New Posture of International Arms Control and Disarmament

About one year on,international arms control and disarmament appeared to be rebounding to become an issue of great international attention,paralleling the issues of financial crisis and climate change.International nuclear disarmament re-dawned with high profile readjustments by the United States in its nuclear arms control policy and tactics.The US and Russia signed a new agreement of bilateral nuclear disarmament.Multilateral nuclear arms control has also softened,and the nuclear security issue loomed large.The Conference on the Review of Nuclear Non-proliferation was held,the main illustration of the adjustment by the US to its arms control policy and tactics.On balance,however,the US arms control and disarmament policies remain largely rhetorical,as its two strategic objectives of nuclear weapon policy--nuclear deterrence and non-proliferation--has been kept intact,and even intensified.     

New Development in Global Politics and Rethinking on China’s Multilateral Diplomacy

The new developments in global politics exert three systemic impacts on international relations. Global issues, vital to the survival of mankind, rise to the top agenda of national governments. The epicenter of global power is shifting from U.S. and Europe to the rest of the regions. The global "political excitement and zeal" is rolling on. All exact more on the competence of global governance. The current international multilateral mechanisms are in "competence deficit", worsening either in terms of adequacy, validity or legitimacy. The call for the reform of it is ever soaring. China by the way is at once engaging in the multilateral diplomacy transforming the international system and facing the growing pressure of assuming "leadership" and "international responsibility". China needs to continuously adapt to the changed national identity in the multilateral diplomacy, to reconcile the multilateral mechanisms that deal with regions and domains in China’s strategic planning and laying-out, to organically associate the short-term and long-term goals and to upgrade the concept of harmonious world in the practice of multilateral diplomacy.     

Abstracts

Features of the Current International Situation and New Challenges to China＇s External Environment CHEN Dongxiao （1）
The current international situation is marked by the accelerating evolution of the international order remarkably characterized with ad hoc and transitional features. The configuration of the international powers is continuing with the momentum of multi-polarization and equalization, though remains basically as a trilateral structure consists of the United States, EU and emerging powers with the U.S., the only superpower, arching over. The profound evolution of the international system and the growing demand of global governance are contradicted with insufficient mechanisms of international governance, leading to the primary contradiction of the present international relations.     

The trend of relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean from the perspective of Bi-regional Summits

<正>Nowadays,multilateral consultative mechanism is gradually becoming a mainstream approach in the contemporary international system.As one of the most important international collective player,the European Union(EU) has been engaging in multilateral cooperation and consultation since its inception.It has also been promoting a plural world through advocacy and action.The EU and the Latin America/Caribbean(LAC) Countries summits are considered a stability mechanism for promoting bi-regional dialogues.Nevertheless,after 10 years of bi-regional strategic partnership construction,the EU and LAC relations are currently experiencing a difficult phase,suggesting it is time to reform.The purpose of this paper is to analyze the advantages as well as the challenges to EU-LAC relations from the perspective of bi-regional summits,and to assess the short-term trend of their relations in the near future     

Abstracts

＂Symbiosis of International Society＂ and IR Theory of Peace and Development
Symbiosis of international society is a proposition universally valid and impeccable. Both the two world wars and the general crisis occurred in the first half of the last century indicated that the change of lR theory was at the turning point of history and that the proposition of symbiosis of international society would inevitably replace the proposition of international anarchism, though it r has not been realized to date unfortunately. The post-war development of international society has all the more offered ample resources for establishing the leading position of the symbiosis o f international society in 1R research. By virtue of the momentum, it is the time to boost the Chinese traditional culture and Chinese wisdom of harmonious philosophy in the scientific explanation of the symbiosis of international society, which is particularly necessary for creating the IR theory of peace and development, sticking to the road of peace and development and contributing to the construction of a lasting peace, co-prosperity and harmonious world.     

Notes for Contributors

<正>The Global Review is a bilingual(Chinese and English) bimonthly in the field of international relations,the first of its kind in China,and published by SIIS in cooperation with the     

Notes for Contributors

<正>The Global Review is a bilingual (Chinese and English) bimonthly in the field of international relations,the first of its kind in China,and published by SIIS in cooperation with the     

Global Power Structure Shifted and Transitional Multi-polarity Emerged

The world is facing the third important global power shift.The United States,EU, Japan,Russia,China,and the newly emerging power group are becoming the six big forces in the international center stage,while the former three forces and the latter three belong to two groups,waning and waxing respectively.The major shift in the global balance of power is bound to give rise to the transitional multi-polar configuration,which implies a shifting of leadership over the configuration,China and U.S.outweighing other forces,global issues looming large,homogeneity blending with heterogeneity,and a shifting center of world powers.The transitional multi-polar configuration is all about change,upon which China is one of the decisive forces.     

Toward a New Decade:Research on the Sustainable Development of FOCAC

FOCAC is a successful and pioneering cooperation model jointly explored by China and Africa.The Forum has become an important platform for facilitating China-Africa relations since its founding 10 years ago.Within this framework the two sides have achieved great accomplishment through cooperation,and have created new development areas.Currently,the international system is experiencing deep adjustments,and the international political,economic and security situation is becoming increasingly complicated.Within such a context,the Forum continues to embrace new development opportunities as well as face new challenges.This paper will evaluate the achievements and the experiences of the Forum,and offer some proposals on promoting the sustainable development of FOCAC within the new context.     

Abstracts

In recent years, the strategic values of the Arctic are increasingly recognized by the international community. The development of the Arctic is becoming the focus of interested parties. The sense and mechanism of cooperation among Arctic states themselves, as well as between Arctic and non-Arctic states, are gradually improving. However, contradictions and conflicts among related parties are not easy to eliminate. The role and influence of multilateral cooperation mechanism, such as the Arctic Council, is significantly enhanced. The Arctic Economic Council is to be established. Taking into consideration the above trends of the Arctic, the author puts forward his suggestions on China＇s participation in Arctic affairs. First, view opportunities and challenges that China faces regarding its participation in Arctic affairs in a rational and objective way, stick to the status of ＂near-Arctic State＂ and Arctic stake-holder as well as ＂Three Adherence＂ in Arctic affairs. Second, continue to establish and improve bilateral and multilateral platforms for Arctic cooperation, make good use of accredited observer status in the Arctic Council to involve deeply in Arctic cooperation and enhance Arctic scientific research. Third, formulate comprehensive and systematic Arctic policy, promote Arctic public diplomacy. Lastly, participate in Arctic developments in a cautious and trustworthy way, and make contributions to the peace, stability and sustainable development of the Arctic.     

The Darfur Issue:A New Test for China’s African Policy

<正>With the approaching of Sudan's very first election in nearly two decades in April 2010,Sudan,the biggest country in Africa and also the country that faced most complicated development environment both domestically and internationally,is once again becoming the focus of the world.And the ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan,about one fifth of the total area and with more than 17%of total population,plus the controversy policy taken by the Sudan government as well as China's growing economic engagement in the country,particularly in the energy field,has put China's Africa policy in the spot light.Since China and Sudan have had a long tradition of friendship and close political and economic ties,there has been an unreasonable high expectation from the international community that China alone can influence the position of the Sudanese government on this sensitive matter.The international controversy over Darfur has brought a fundamental challenge to China's long-held foreign policy of 'non-interference'.The author argued in the paper,the principle of"non-interference"should not be interpreted as non willingness to take the"responsibility to protect".As a matter of fact,in recent years,China's Darfur policy has shown more and more flexibility and the"non-interference"policy itself is also undergoing changes.Given the complexity of the Darfur issue and the volatile North/South relation in Sudan,the"engagement approach"endorsed and pushed by China is more constructive than"sanction initiative"for maintaining the stability and peace in Sudan.     

Abstracts

European and U.S. Responses to China＇s Rise： Theory, Strategy, and Interaction
ZHAO Huaipu ＆ WANG Zhenling
In recent years, whether China can rise peacefully has been a central topic in the policy-making circles and academia of Europe and the United States. IR theorists of different schools have analyzed this topic through their respective paradigmatic prisms, and offered their suggestions on how to respond to China＇s rise. Theoretical debates have influenced and even guided the formulation of EU and American strategies on China＇s rise, as the elements of power, institution, culture and international community are all embedded in their specific strategies and policy responses. However, due to differences in their behavior, values, and soft and hard powers, they differ in the combination of theoretical elements in their strategies. As a result, even though the U.S. and the EU have similar goals regarding China＇s rise, their approaches are very different. With new changes in the international situation in the past few years, the EU and the U.S. have strengthened their interaction and coordination in their responses to China＇s rise. But because of insufficient hard power on the part of the EU and the differences in transatlantic Asia strategies, cooperation on their China strategies is still limited. China should support and push for stronger trilateral interaction and coordination, as this will help lessen joint pressure from the two and enhance China＇s influence in the international system.     

Abstracts

Adjustment of Further toward US Global Strategy： the Asia-Pacific Region Strategic Focus Tilting
SHEN Qiang （1）
Since coming into being, the Obama Administration has made significant adjustments to the US global strategy far beyond those made by the previous administrations. The US global strategy has tilted its geopolitical, geoeconomic and geomilitary focuses further to the Asia-Pacific region from the Europe-Atlantic region, so as to respond to the complex and profound changes that have taken place in Europe and Asia in recent years. At present, the relative superiority of US hard and soft powers over Europe and Asia still exits. By relying on such superiority,     

Addressing Global Climate Change:The Need to Shape a Multidimensional Strategy for International Cooperation

<正>How to mobilize world countries to work together in addressing global climate change is now another focus of world attention.This is a major milestone in the history of human social development and progress in modern times and also a tremendous,complex and systematic project.Its success or failure depends not only on the transformation of the traditional old model of high-emission and high-growth development,which is formed in the industrialization process over a long period of time,into a new model of low-emission and high-growth development,which is adapted to the change of the times and the ecosystem.It also depends on the political will of countries around the world to jointly attach importance to and participate in tackling global climate change,and on more awareness and consensus among them to the importance and urgency to meet the challenge.Against this background,it is highly necessary to shape a multidimensional strategy for international cooperation and work out supplementary policies and practical measures.     

Clean Energy Development and China’s Climate Change Bargaining Position:Industry Policy,Innovation and Business Power

<正>This paper analyses developments in China's climate change diplomacy from the perspective of business power and conflict theory.It does so by:(i) accounting for the processes of clean energy industry policy and development in China;(ii) introducing the concept of business power and placing it in the context of climate change;(iii) applying the business power concept to China explore how the development of clean energy industry is expanding China's policy options and changing its bargaining position;and(iv) taking stock of developments thus far and assessing future prospects.It will thereby test both the theoretical proposition that the business power concept is applicable to the Chinese situation,and the empirical proposition that the ongoing development of the national clean energy sector is crucial to China's bargaining position at the international level.     

China’s Aid to Africa:Characteristics,Its Role and Challenges ahead

Started from 1956,China’s aid to Africa has been playing a very significant role for strengthening Sino-African ties as a whole.Generally speaking,take "the reform and opening-up" policy started from late 1970s as a line of demarcation,China’s aid policy to Africa can be divided into two periods in the half century.The driving force of China’s aid policy before the line was to strengthen the diplomatic and political ties with African countries.The focus of China’s aid policy after the line is to seek mutual economic cooperation and common development.Comparing with the Western approaches,the major characteristics of China’s aid policy to Africa are mainly three:the aid is provided with no strings attached,and emphasizing on bilateral aid projects rather than multilateral system,strong focus on "hardware projects" such as physical infrastructure construction rather than "software projects" like research and capacity building.In general,China’s aid to Africa has generated effective results and helped a lot for China’s involvement in Africa.However,it is also facing new challenges at the moment and future.     

The Soft Power of India Viewed from Its Economic Reform

India’s economic reform started from the realm of finance, which is within the category of soft power of a country. The wax and wane of the overall power of a country is largely determined by the interplay of hard and soft pwers in question. India’s soft power has its own characteristics and advantages, which chiefly manifest in its culture, parliamentary democracy, education and finance. In the 21st century, these advantages will continue to have significant play.     

Japan’s Politics and Diplomacy after DPJ Took Power

Great changes occurred to the Japanese power structure as DPJ had taken power. The new government in Japan is now headed by DPJ and its alliance–Social Democratic Party and People's New Party, substituting for LDP-Komeito coalition government, an alternation of two conservative parties, though not in a strict sense of the two-party alternation. The election intensified the conservative politics in general, though different from the hawk conservative force in the post-cold war period. The Japanese political ...