Policy Press

Reimagining the International

Chinese World Ordering before the West

By Yongjin Zhang

Published

Nov 1, 2024

Page count

224 pages

Browse the series

Bristol Studies in East Asian International Relations

ISBN

978-1529237344

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Nov 1, 2024

Page count

224 pages

Browse the series

Bristol Studies in East Asian International Relations

ISBN

978-1529237368

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press
Reimagining the International

A rich and enlightening study of Chinese international relations, this book shows how engaging China’s history can contribute to our search for global foundations of international thought. It examines international thought in ancient China, Chinese international relations in deep world history, and the evolution of contemporary Chinese academic IR as intellectual history.

Offering a distinctive English School perspective, this volume is a call to put studies of Chinese international relations in their proper historical context, arguing that such an approach leads to a better understanding of Chinese ideas and statecraft and contributes to a fruitful pursuit of IR knowledge production in the construction of global IR.

Yongjin Zhang is Professor of International Politics at the University of Bristol.

Introduction

Part 1: International Thought in Ancient China

1.The Idea of Order in Ancient Chinese Political Thought

2.Order and Justice in Confucian Moralpolitik

Part 2: Chinese World Ordering before the West

3.System, Empire, and State in Chinese International Relations

4.The Tribute System as International Society

5.Europeans in Pax Sinica, 1513-1793

6.Worlding China, 1500-1800

Part 3: Chinese World Ordering as Intellectual History

7.Chinese World Ordering as History of Ideas

8.The International Turn in Chinese Intellectual History

Epilogue: Reimagining the International