Chinese concepts and Relational International politics

Journal article

Kavalski, Emilian. (2018). Chinese concepts and Relational International politics. All Azimuth. 7(1), pp. 87-102. https://doi.org/10.20991/allazimuth.325784
AuthorsKavalski, Emilian
Abstract

The rise of China troubles the taken-for-granted epistemological and ontological constitution of International Relations (IR) theory. The Greek term ‘theoria’ implied travelling to foreign locales with the aim of gaining illumination that can then simultaneously inform and transform the ‘home’ of the traveler. Yet, instead of travelling, IR theory engages in silencing. This paper undertakes an interpretative journey of China’s IR concepts. In particular, it looks at the notion of guanxi – one of the two terms that goes into the Chinese phrase for International Relations (guoji guanxi). The contention is that ‘relationality’ renders a more accurate translation of guanxi in English. In the process, the paper uncovers the practices of ‘international relationality’ as an opportunity to redefine the ‘international’ as a co-dependent space where two or more actors (despite their divergences) can interface into a dialogical community.

KeywordsGuanxi; relationality; post-Western international relations; Chinese international relations; relational international relations
Year2018
JournalAll Azimuth
Journal citation7 (1), pp. 87-102
PublisherCenter for Foreign Policy and Peace Research, Ihsan Dogramaci Peace Foundation
ISSN2146-7757
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.20991/allazimuth.325784
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85040091209
Web address (URL)https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/allazimuth/issue/33586/325784
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Publication process dates
Deposited10 May 2021
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