A Relational Theory of World Politics

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A Relational Theory of World Politics

Drawing on Chinese cultural and philosophical traditions, this book offers a ground-breaking reinterpretation of world politics from Yaqing Qin, one of China's leading scholars of International Relations. Qin has pioneered the study of constructivism in China and developed a cultural approach, arguing that culture defined in terms of background knowledge nurtures social theory and enables theoretical innovation. Building upon this argument, this book presents the concept of "relationality," shifting the focus from individual actors to the relations amongst actors. This ontology of relations examines the unfolding processes whereby relations create the identities of actors and provide motivations for their actions. Appealing to scholars of international relations theory, social theory and Chinese political thought, this exciting new concept will be of particular interest to those who are seeking to bridge Eastern and Western approaches for a truly global International Relations project.

A Relational Theory of World Politics A Relational Theory of World Politics

A Relational Theory of World Politics

Preface

Four

Acknowledgments

Part One Culture and Social Theory

Theory and Social Theory

Monism

Social Theory and the Multicultural World

Pluralism

Social Theory and the Multicultural World

Social Theory Construction

Conclusion

Two. Theoretical Hard Core

The Theoretical Hard Core and Its Constitution

Background, Practice, and Cultural Communities

Culture and the Metaphysical Component

Conclusion

Three Culture and Theoretical Innovation

The Metaphysical Component, Incommensurability, and Theoretical Innovation

Culture as Resources for Theoretical Innovation

Culture and Social Theory

Culture and Theoretical Innovation

Social Theory: From Particularity to Bounded Universality

Culture and Social Theory

Conclusion

Overview

The document presents a pioneering cultural approach to international relations, highlighting relationality as a key concept derived from Chinese philosophical traditions. It aims to bridge Eastern and Western theories in the study of global politics and social theory.

Key Points

1The book introduces the concept of relationality to shift focus from individual actors to their interrelations
2It explores how background knowledge and culture influence social theory and innovation
3The author argues for the ontological significance of relations in understanding identities and actions
4It seeks to integrate Eastern perspectives into mainstream international relations scholarship
5Confucianism's emphasis on relationships provides a contrast to Western individualism in political theory.

Details

Authors: Yaqing Qin
Category: Social Sciences

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