China´s cultural fundamentals behind current foreign policy views: Heritage of old thinking habits in Chinese modern thoughts
Vol. 10, No 2, 2017
Milan Lajčiak
Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the Republic of Korea,
|
CHINA´S CULTURAL FUNDAMENTALS BEHIND CURRENT FOREIGN POLICY VIEWS: HERITAGE OF OLD THINKING HABITS IN CHINESE MODERN THOUGHTS |
|
Abstract. Different philosophical frameworks between China and the West found their reflection in diverging concepts of managing relations with the outside world. China focused more on circumstances, managing situation and preventing conflicts, the West was resolution oriented, aimed at fighting opponents and looking for victory in conflicts. China has introduced the idea of harmony-hierarchy world, while the West, on the opposite, tends to freedom-conflict patterns of relations. On China’s side, thinking habits and old thought paradigms of statecraft are until now deeply ingrained in mentality, thus shaping China´s policy today. Understanding the background of Chinese traditional thinking modes and mind heritage helps better understanding of China´s rise in global affairs as well as of Sino-American relations as the key element in a search for global leadership. |
Received: December, 2016 1st Revision: February, 2017 Accepted: March, 2017 |
|
DOI: 10.14254/2071-8330.2017/10-2/1 |
|
JEL Classification:F5, P5, Z1 |
Keywords: China, West, thinking habits, foreign policy concepts, China rise, Sino-American relations |