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The Chinese Journal of International Politics 2008 2(1):135-165; doi:10.1093/cjip/pon005
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Reproduced from the Quarterly Journal of International Politics, with kind permission of the authors and the Institute of International Studies, Tsinghua University

Xun Zi's Thoughts on International Politics and Their Implications*

Yan Xuetong{dagger}

{dagger}Corresponding author. Email: yanxt@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

There is considerable depth and breadth of research on the ancient Chinese philosophy of Xun Zi. These studies, however, usually explain his ideas from the perspective of domestic politics and governance. This article explores Xun Zi's thoughts on international politics from an international politics perspective.1 Xun Zi's expositions on international politics were few, and diffused over different books. His most pertinent views are expounded in Book 11, Of Kings and Lords-Protector; Book 9, On the Regulations of a King; and Book 18, Rectifying Theses. Although they contain no systemic ideas or formal theories on international politics, Xun Zi's thoughts from 2,000 years ago are nonetheless relevant to current explanations of international political phenomena; certain of his ideas in this context offer plausible and sensible rationales. This article discusses Xun Zi's analytical methodology and ideas on international politics and how it may have provided inspiration for contemporary China's . . . [Full Text of this Article]


   Methodology for Analysing International Politics
 
System Level and Unit Level Analysis

Ideational and Internal Determination of Cause

Strict and Comparative Analysis


   Understanding the Power of a State
 
A State's Dual Function as Actor and Instrument

The Relationship between Political and Military-Economic Power

Reasons for Uneven Development of Power


   Understanding International Authority
 
The Definition of Tianxia (World) and You Tianxia (Having the World)

Kingship Based on Political-Moral Principles

Hegemony Based on Hard Power and Strategic Candour

Might Based on Military Strength and Strategy


   Understanding International Order
 
Human Nature as the Root Cause of Conflict

The Constraining Function of Social Norms

The Hierarchical Foundation of Social Norms


   Inspirations Offered by Xun Zi's Thoughts on China's Rising Strategy
 
The Objective of the Rising Strategy

The Power Basis for the Rising Strategy

The Tactics of the Rising Strategy

Fair and Equitable International Norms


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