In his speech given for the UN on January 18, 2017, Xi Jinping presents a number of points that represent a specific view from one of the following political theories: neo-realism, neo-liberalism, constructivism, and power transition theory. He seems to focus heavily on globalization, the international community, and international organizations, while attempting to acknowledge the fact that individual countries should have their own governments and be allowed to remain individualized. According to the speech, there is a trend towards multipolarity as well, and interdependence is highly important to the survival of states. Overall, the viewpoint presented is oddly optimistic in regard to achieving global peace and other key factors in the international
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We should advance democracy in international relations and reject dominance by just one or several countries.” At first, this quote seems to suggest a neo-liberal viewpoint due to the mention of the advancement of democracy in the international system (Doyle 1986). However, the emphasis made on inclusiveness and the rejection of unipolarity or anything close to unipolarity points the presented viewpoint more in the direction constructivism. According to the constructivist viewpoint, social mechanisms limit unipolarity. For example, a unipole’s power must be seen as legitimate by other states, and is therefore still somewhat dependent on others (Finnemore 2008, 60). This provides support for the idea that the speech is from a constructivist viewpoint as neo-liberalism and neo-realism put little to no emphasis on this …show more content…
With power transition theory, there is a focus on hierarchy instead of the focus on anarchy seen with the other theories. There is a dominant power, followed by other major powers, minor powers, and the “dregs” of the international system. According to power transition theory, states are also self-interested and focused on internal growth instead of international spread (Kugler and Lemke 1999). This all is contradictory of the viewpoint represented in Jinping’s speech since, as mentioned previously, the speech presents a view where having a single major power is not in control; instead, all states have some level of control over international law and there is an active trend towards multipolarity
We should advance democracy in international relations and reject dominance by just one or several countries.” At first, this quote seems to suggest a neo-liberal viewpoint due to the mention of the advancement of democracy in the international system (Doyle 1986). However, the emphasis made on inclusiveness and the rejection of unipolarity or anything close to unipolarity points the presented viewpoint more in the direction constructivism. According to the constructivist viewpoint, social mechanisms limit unipolarity. For example, a unipole’s power must be seen as legitimate by other states, and is therefore still somewhat dependent on others (Finnemore 2008, 60). This provides support for the idea that the speech is from a constructivist viewpoint as neo-liberalism and neo-realism put little to no emphasis on this …show more content…
With power transition theory, there is a focus on hierarchy instead of the focus on anarchy seen with the other theories. There is a dominant power, followed by other major powers, minor powers, and the “dregs” of the international system. According to power transition theory, states are also self-interested and focused on internal growth instead of international spread (Kugler and Lemke 1999). This all is contradictory of the viewpoint represented in Jinping’s speech since, as mentioned previously, the speech presents a view where having a single major power is not in control; instead, all states have some level of control over international law and there is an active trend towards multipolarity