Non-Western Theories of International Relations

Non-Western Theories of International Relations

Alexei D. Voskressenski Non-Western Theories of International Relations Conceptualizing World Regional Studies

Alexei D. Voskressenski MGIMO University Moscow, Russia ISBN 978-3-319-33737-1 ISBN 978-3-319-33738-8 (ebook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-33738-8 Library of Congress Control Number: 2016957336 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2017 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Cover image Vincenzo Dragani / Alamy Stock Photo Printed on acid-free paper This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG The registered company is Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland

About the Author Alexei D. Voskressenski is Professor of Comparative Politics and Asian Studies and Dean of the School of Political Affairs and World Politics, MGIMO University (Moscow). He is a founding editor-in-chief of the journal Comparative Politics Russia (www.comparativepolitics.org) and author, coauthor and editor of many books in Russian and English. Born in Russia, he received a PhD and Dr.Pol.Sc. from the Institute of Far Eastern Studies (Moscow) and a PhD from the University of Manchester (GB). v

Book Abstract This book deals with the problem of elaboration and appraisal of a non-western phenomenon, particularly in the sphere of non-western International Relations (IR) theory. The author explores the core agenda of European and American Studies and identifies the problem of bias in West-centric and East-centric approaches. Attesting the non- Western agenda in international literature, the author compares Russian and Chinese conceptualizations of a non-western reality. He explains the rationale of the world system s evolution and identifies a new evolving stage resulting from the non-western dynamics gaining momentum. After analyzing core hypotheses on the link between economic and political modernization, the author highlights the importance of social-political access for explaining the evolution of the political map of the contemporary world. The author puts forward an idea that Western IR theories missed space as a dimension, which is the core of analyzing theoreticalapplied aspects in World Regional Studies, and proposes it as a potential framework for explaining and appraising non-western IR theories. The author stresses the fact that regionalization implies an appearance of different types of regions and shows the correlation between theoretical and practical aspects of regional transformations. vii

Contents 1 Introduction 1 2 Challenges to the Existing IR System and How They Are Viewed in the IR Literature in the Western and Non-Western Segments of the World 17 3 From the Hegemonic Unipolar to the Multipolar World: Structural Transformation of the International System and Global Strategic Balance, Plus Its Consequences for the Future 53 4 Appraising the Theory of Non-Western IR and the Other Options Available 93 5 What Is Missing in the Western IR Theories: Space as a Core Dimension in World Regional Studies 117 6 Transformation of Space (1): Macro- Regionalization and New Spatial Actors of International Relations 149 ix

x Contents 7 Transformation of the Space (2): Differentiation Within the World Space and Its Consequences for Conceptualizing a De-Westernized IR 163 8 Integration of the Space in a Complex Glocality 199 9 Fusion of Past and Future in the Space of Global Regions and Regional Subsystems of Converging Multiple Modernities 229 10 Conclusion 249 Bibliography 257 Index 261