Scholar from China Delineates the Ascendancy of Mid-Level States and Emerging Changes in International Relations Theory
ASTANA - With major powers stepping back from their global responsibilities, it's now time for middle powers like Kazakhstan to step up and integrate subregions, asserts Professor Yan Xuetong, a renowned Chinese political scientist and influential voice in international relations. During a lecture in Astana on April 28, Yan highlighted the potential of mid-tier nations to drive regional integration, especially in the absence of a dominant leader.
Known as the founder of moral realism, a theory that prioritizes leadership values and strategic preferences, Yan is a cutting-edge thinker in global politics. Currently a distinguished professor at Tsinghua University's Institute of International Relations, Yan has authored groundbreaking works on global leadership and foreign policy. He serves as editor-in-chief of The Chinese Journal of International Politics, and in 2008, Foreign Policy magazine recognized him as one of the top 100 global thinkers.
Held between the Kazakhstan Council on International Relations and Qalam multimedia project, the lecture series previously featured intellectuals such as Barry Buzan and Parag Khanna.
Highlighting the potential created by global changes, Yan noted that mid-tier powers, like Kazakhstan, will have room to influence regional integration. "In the absence of a leader, regional powers must fill the void, creating regional markets and frameworks for cooperation," he said.
He pointed to China-Kazakhstan relations as the most comprehensive among China's Central Asian ties.
"While China's cooperation with other Central Asian states centers on borders and economics, the ties with Kazakhstan are broader. If China wishes to deepen regional integration in Central Asia, it will need to rely on Kazakhstan," Yan explained.
Navigating IR Theories: Closing The Gap
Speaking on moral realism during the lecture, Yan discussed how this theory differs from mainstream international relations (IR) theories like constructivism, liberalism, and classical realism.
Addressing constructivism, Yan criticized its overemphasis on norms and ideas that supposedly shape state behavior. Expecting a steady progression from conflict to cooperation leading to global harmony, constructivists assume a forward-moving trajectory. However, Yan's theory questions this narrative, as recent changes, such as nationalism resurgence and the retreat from globalization, contradict these assumptions.
Turning to liberalism, Yan explained that this school of thought centers on the role of domestic and international institutions as checks on political power. Liberals believe that democratic institutions constrain harmful policymaking while international institutions foster cooperation and reduce costs.
Lastly, Yan criticized realism for solely focusing on material power and national interests. He argued that the relative consistency between U.S. power and interests during the Trump and Biden administrations did not correspond with policy shifts, implying something more than power and interest drives American foreign policy.
Leadership Values: The Core of Moral Realism
To explain these gaps, Yan introduced his moral realism theory. According to Yan, leaders' moral frameworks play a significant role in shaping foreign policy, rather than just power considerations or national interests.
Yan believes that leadership choices drive the functioning of institutions. "The effectiveness of an institution hinges on the leaders who allow it to work. If they empower it, it works," Yan said.
Strategic preferences dictate that nations pursuing similar goals may adopt different approaches due to individual values and frameworks. For example, while everyone may desire wealth, the methods for acquiring it vary among individuals. The same logic applies to foreign policy, asserts Yan.
When Personal Priorities outweigh National Interests
At the heart of moral realism is the belief that foreign policy is swayed not just by structural power dynamics but by the moral character of leaders and their prioritization of personal versus national interests. Yan distinguishes moral leaders - who align personal goals with national interests - from immoral ones, who prioritize self-preservation or personal gain.
Traditional IR theories usually assume that leaders will always act in their nation's best interest; however, according to Yan, this is mere speculation. He cited instances of regimes that isolate themselves despite clear economic benefits from global engagement.
The Age of Counter-globalization
Counter-globalization was primarily driven by political leadership rather than structural or institutional forces, argues Yan.
"The world changed because major power leaders adopted de-globalization policies," he said. Yan described globalization as the emergence of a unified global market post-Cold War, when markets were previously fragmented due to geopolitical barriers and closed economies.
According to Yan, global integration intensified following the adoption of shared regulations under the World Trade Organization (WTO), although resistance persisted. Small businesses and local vendors struggled to compete against international corporations.
In contrast to constructivism, which examines changing norms, ideologies, and identities, or liberalism, which focuses on international law and institutions, moral realism offers a unique perspective by highlighting individual moral agency within the broader geopolitical landscape. It sheds light on how leaders' personal values can override traditional national interests in international relations.
- Professor Yan Xuetong, a champion of moral realism, criticized constructivism for overemphasizing norms and ideas, questioning the assumption of a forward-moving trajectory from conflict to cooperation leading to global harmony.
- According to Yan, Chinese-Kazakhstan relations offer an example of regional powers influencing integration, as China will need to rely on Kazakhstan for deeper regional integration in Central Asia, given the comprehensive ties between the two nations.
- In his lecture, Yan discussed how leaders' moral frameworks play a significant role in shaping foreign policy, challenging traditional IR theories that focus on material power and national interests by asserting the importance of leadership values.
- Yan believes that counter-globalization was primarily driven by political leadership rather than structural or institutional forces, arguing that de-globalization policies adopted by major power leaders changed the world.
