The Ankara Center for Crisis and Policy Research (ANKASAM) presents an interview with Amit Kumar, Research Assistant from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in India, to evaluate China’s regional and global policies, the latest developments in world politics, and the future of global conflicts.
1.Can you assess how China’s policy can promote cooperation with other countries in Asia and beyond and strengthen regional integration?
China’s approach to promoting cooperation and strengthening regional integration has evolved significantly with the introduction of three major initiatives: the Global Security Initiative (GSI), Global Development Initiative (GDI), and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). These concepts, introduced between 2021 and 2023, complement existing frameworks like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and represent China’s comprehensive vision for reshaping regional and global governance.
The Global Development Initiative, proposed in 2021, emphasizes China’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive development in the Global South. By focusing on practical cooperation in areas such as poverty reduction, food security, green development, and digital innovation, the GDI provides a new platform for regional integration that extends beyond traditional infrastructure and trade. This initiative has garnered support from over 100 countries and international organizations, demonstrating China’s ability to development cooperation as a tool for regional integration. Through the GDI, China has established additional mechanisms for policy coordination and resource mobilization, enhancing its role as a development partner in Asia and beyond.
Complementing the GDI, the Global Security Initiative, introduced in 2022, reflects China’s effort to reshape the regional security architecture. The GSI promotes a comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept that challenges traditional alliance-based security frameworks. By emphasizing common security and proposing mechanisms for conflict resolution and crisis management, the GSI seeks to create a more favorable security environment for regional integration. This initiative has particular significance in regions where security concerns have historically impeded economic cooperation, such as Central Asia and Southeast Asia.
The Global Civilization Initiative, the most recent addition announced in 2023, addresses the cultural and civilizational dimensions of regional integration. By promoting respect for civilizational diversity and advocating for dialogue among civilizations, the GCI attempts to create a cultural foundation for deeper regional cooperation. This initiative reflects China’s recognition that successful regional integration requires not only economic and security cooperation but also cultural understanding and people-to-people bonds.
Together, these three initiatives represent a more holistic approach to regional integration that goes beyond the primarily economic focus of the BRI. They demonstrate China’s evolving strategy to address multiple dimensions of regional cooperation simultaneously. By linking development, security, and cultural exchanges, China aims to create a more comprehensive and resilient framework for regional integration that can withstand geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties.
However, these initiatives also face significant challenges. Critics argue that they represent an attempt to create alternative global governance mechanisms that primarily serve China’s interests. There are concerns about the potential for these initiatives to deepen regional dependency on China and exacerbate existing power asymmetries. Additionally, the overlap and interaction between these various initiatives and existing regional frameworks remain unclear, potentially leading to coordination challenges and institutional competition.
From an academic perspective, China’s expanded approach to regional integration, encompassing the GSI, GDI, and GCI alongside the BRI, represents a significant evolution in its foreign policy strategy. This comprehensive approach aligns with theories of complex interdependence, suggesting that multiple channels of interaction between societies can create more stable and resilient regional integration. However, the effectiveness of this strategy will depend on China’s ability to address concerns about its intentions and demonstrate tangible benefits for participating countries.
In conclusion, while China’s recent global initiatives represent a more sophisticated and multidimensional approach to regional integration, their success will ultimately depend on implementation and reception by regional partners. The combination of development, security, and cultural initiatives provides new tools for promoting cooperation, but also raises questions about the implications for regional autonomy and existing international governance structures. As these initiatives continue to evolve, their impact on regional integration dynamics will remain a critical area for academic study and policy analysis.
2.What is the impact of global economic policies on international relations and power struggles? In particular, how can the policy implications of trade wars, economic sanctions and international trade agreements be analyzed?
The intersection of global economic policies and international relations represents a critical domain where economic statecraft increasingly shapes the dynamics of power and governance in the international system. Economic policies, particularly trade wars, sanctions, and trade agreements, have emerged as primary instruments through which states pursue their geopolitical objectives, fundamentally altering traditional concepts of power projection and interstate competition. This evolution reflects a growing recognition that economic interdependence can be both a source of cooperation and a weapon in international conflicts.
Trade wars, exemplified by the recent US-China trade conflict, illustrate how economic disputes can rapidly escalate into broader geopolitical confrontations. These conflicts extend beyond simple tariff impositions to encompass technology transfer restrictions, investment screenings, and supply chain realignments. The ripple effects of such bilateral tensions reverberate throughout the global economy, forcing other states to recalibrate their economic and diplomatic alignments. From an International Political Economy (IPE) perspective, trade wars reveal the delicate balance between economic interdependence and national security concerns, often leading to a “security-trade nexus” where economic and security policies become inextricably linked.
Economic sanctions have evolved into increasingly sophisticated tools of coercive diplomacy. The unprecedented scale of sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine demonstrates both the potential and limitations of economic coercion. These measures, ranging from financial restrictions to technology export controls, have highlighted the weaponization of economic interdependence, a phenomenon scholars term “weaponized interdependence.” However, the effectiveness of sanctions remains debatable, with research suggesting their success rate at achieving political objectives is limited. The emergence of counter-sanctions strategies and alternative financial systems (like China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System) indicates an ongoing reconfiguration of the global economic architecture in response to the threat of sanctions.
International trade agreements have transformed from purely economic instruments into complex frameworks that reflect and shape power dynamics. The evolution from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the subsequent proliferation of bilateral and regional trade agreements, demonstrates the intertwining of economic and political objectives. Modern trade agreements often include provisions on labor standards, environmental protection, and intellectual property rights, extending their impact far beyond traditional trade concerns. The recent emphasis on “friend-shoring” and “trusted partner” frameworks in trade relationships underscores how economic agreements increasingly reflect geopolitical alignments.
These economic policy instruments collectively contribute to what some scholars term the “geoeconomic world order,” where economic and financial power are primary determinants of international influence. The policy implications are profound: states must navigate complex trade-offs between economic benefits and security concerns, while international institutions struggle to adapt to the increasing politicization of economic relations. The rise of geoeconomic competition has led to a fragmentation of global economic governance, with competing visions and frameworks emerging from different power centers.
Critical analysis of these developments requires a multidisciplinary approach combining insights from international relations theory, economics, and strategic studies. Policymakers and academics alike is to understand how economic policies can be calibrated to achieve strategic objectives while minimizing the risks of escalation and economic destabilization. As the international system continues to evolve, the interplay between economic policies and power struggles will remain a crucial area for both scholarly analysis and policy formulation.
3.What is the role of international relations and historical processes in the origins of current global conflicts?
The contemporary landscape of global conflicts is profoundly shaped by the intricate interplay of historical processes and international relations. This complex web encompasses long-standing grievances, power dynamics, and structural inequalities that have evolved over time. To understand current conflicts, one must examine the historical trajectories that have established enduring patterns of interaction between states and non-state actors, shaped identity formations, and reinforced persistent power asymmetries in the international system.
Among the most influential historical processes is the legacy of colonialism, which continues to exert a significant influence on contemporary conflicts. The arbitrary drawing of borders by colonial powers, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, resulted in artificial state boundaries that often disregarded ethnic, religious, and cultural realities. This colonial heritage has fostered protracted disputes over territorial sovereignty, resource distribution, and political representation. For instance, ongoing tensions in the Great Lakes region of Africa can be traced back to the Belgian colonial administration’s institutionalization of ethnic divisions, while the complexities of the Middle East conflict are closely linked to the post-Ottoman settlement and the Sykes-Picot Agreement.
The Cold War era, despite its official conclusion, has left an indelible mark on current global conflicts. The bipolar international system of that time fostered proxy wars, ideological confrontations, and military interventions whose repercussions still resonate today. The Afghan conflict, for example, cannot be fully understood without considering the Soviet invasion and subsequent U.S. involvement, which created conditions for the rise of various militant groups and ongoing regional instability. Similarly, the current tensions in Eastern Europe, particularly the Ukraine crisis, are deeply rooted in Cold War geopolitics and the realignment of power that followed the Soviet Union’s collapse. This historical context underscores how past conflicts continue to shape present dynamics, highlighting the importance of historical legacies in contemporary international relations.
The post-Cold War period has introduced new dimensions to global conflicts while also reinforcing some historical patterns. The emergence of a unipolar moment, followed by a gradual shift toward multipolarity, has created new tensions as rising powers challenge the established international order.
Several major ongoing conflicts dominate the current geopolitical landscape, including the Ukraine-Russia war, the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Israel-Iran rivalry, the India-Pakistan rivalry, the situation in Afghanistan, and the U.S.-China competition. Each of these conflicts demonstrates how historical legacies intersect with modern power dynamics to shape international tensions.
The Ukraine-Russia war, for instance, highlights how historical narratives and identity politics fuel contemporary conflicts. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 cannot be fully understood without considering the complex historical relationship between the two nations, rooted in Kievan Rus and extending through the Soviet era. Vladimir Putin’s irredentist ideology, which questions Ukrainian statehood, draws on selective historical interpretations to justify territorial aggression. This conflict also reflects broader geopolitical tensions stemming from post-Cold War security architectures in Europe, particularly NATO’s eastward expansion and Russia’s perception of strategic encirclement.
Similarly, the Israel-Palestine conflict is shaped by colonial legacies and competing historical narratives. Its origins in the post-World War I settlement, including the Balfour Declaration and the UN partition plan, highlight how decisions by external powers can have lasting consequences. The ongoing struggle over territory and sovereignty is exacerbated by entrenched historical narratives, complicating prospects for resolution and drawing in multiple actors.
The India-Pakistan rivalry, rooted in the traumatic partition of British India in 1947, exemplifies how colonial legacies continue to shape contemporary conflicts. The disputed territory of Kashmir remains a flashpoint, with both nations constructing national identities in opposition to one another. This rivalry has evolved beyond territorial disputes to encompass nuclear deterrence and cross-border terrorism, reflecting how historical trauma can be transmitted through generations, creating significant obstacles to normalization.
The situation in Afghanistan illustrates the complex interplay of great power interventions, local dynamics, and historical patterns of resistance to external control. Afghanistan’s role as a buffer state during the Great Game, combined with Cold War proxy conflicts and post-9/11 interventions, has generated layers of historical grievances and power struggles. The Taliban’s resurgence following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021 exemplifies how deeply rooted local forces can outlast superpower interventions, highlighting the limitations of external efforts to reshape societies with established political and social structures.
Finally, the U.S.-China rivalry represents a multifaceted competition shaped by both historical experiences and contemporary power transitions. China’s memory of the “century of humiliation” influences its approach to international relations, particularly regarding territorial integrity. This competition encompasses economic, technological, and military dimensions, reflecting how rising powers challenge established international orders.
From an International Relations perspective, these conflicts collectively illustrate key theoretical insights. Realist approaches emphasize how power transitions and security dilemmas fuel conflicts, while constructivist perspectives highlight the role of identity and historical narratives in shaping state behavior. Liberal institutionalist views point to the limitations of international institutions in resolving conflicts rooted in deep historical grievances, while critical theories stress how colonial legacies and structural inequalities perpetuate conditions conducive to conflict.
In summary, understanding contemporary global conflicts requires a nuanced appreciation of historical processes and their interplay with modern dynamics. These conflicts reveal complex webs of alliances and enmities, demonstrating how the weight of history informs current international relations and shapes the future of global stability.
