Traditional empire–modern state hybridity
Chinese tianxia and Westphalian anarchy 1
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13008941 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hung-Jen Wang (0000-0001-6882-8443, National Cheng Kung University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2017 |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 298-326 |
| Publication date | 2017-07-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Global Constitutionalism (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2045-3817 • E-ISSN: 2045-3825 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s2045381717000065 |
| OpenAlex | W2736722513 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 1 |
Individual relationships between Mainland China and Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan are considered confusing for some because China’s rising international power is not resulting in stronger calls for a shared identity based on ‘Chinese pride’ or historical links. Instead, China’s economic growth appears to be provoking increasingly stronger calls for autonomy or independence. In this article I discuss why Beijing’s self-described peace and development policy is failing to procure positive responses in those four regions, with a primary focus on the failed use of narrowly-defined Westphalian thinking to understand relevant issues. I argue that the reason for this failure is the tension between the individualist ontology underlying modern international politics (as expressed in terms of Westphalian sovereignty) and the relational ontology underpinning a traditional Chinese politics built upon a tianxia (‘all-under-heaven’) world view. This tension has become conspicuous in the context of China’s recent rise and Beijing’s growing confidence in contesting Western power. The Chinese leadership’s reliance on arguments involving historical connections with Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and calls for autonomy or independence from citizens living in those four areas, are examples of this contestation
China · Context (archaeology · Mainland China · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Realpolitik · Sociology · Sovereignty · Westphalian sovereignty · China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance · History · Hong Kong and Taiwan Politics · Japanese History and Culture · Law
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0.5 |
| Citation span | 2018 - 2021 (4) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 4 |