Transcending Rationalism and Constructivism: Chinese Leaders’ Operational Codes, Socialization Processes, and Multilateralism after the Cold War

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Standard

Transcending Rationalism and Constructivism: Chinese Leaders’ Operational Codes, Socialization Processes, and Multilateralism after the Cold War. / He, Kai; Feng, Huiyun.

In: European Political Science Review, Vol. 7, No. 3, 2015, p. 401 – 426.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

He, K & Feng, H 2015, 'Transcending Rationalism and Constructivism: Chinese Leaders’ Operational Codes, Socialization Processes, and Multilateralism after the Cold War', European Political Science Review, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 401 – 426. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755773914000241

APA

He, K., & Feng, H. (2015). Transcending Rationalism and Constructivism: Chinese Leaders’ Operational Codes, Socialization Processes, and Multilateralism after the Cold War. European Political Science Review, 7(3), 401 – 426. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755773914000241

Vancouver

He K, Feng H. Transcending Rationalism and Constructivism: Chinese Leaders’ Operational Codes, Socialization Processes, and Multilateralism after the Cold War. European Political Science Review. 2015;7(3):401 – 426. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755773914000241

Author

He, Kai ; Feng, Huiyun. / Transcending Rationalism and Constructivism: Chinese Leaders’ Operational Codes, Socialization Processes, and Multilateralism after the Cold War. In: European Political Science Review. 2015 ; Vol. 7, No. 3. pp. 401 – 426.

Bibtex

@article{a8051164805e429bbeed27d742f4c21f,
title = "Transcending Rationalism and Constructivism: Chinese Leaders{\textquoteright} Operational Codes, Socialization Processes, and Multilateralism after the Cold War",
abstract = "This paper challenges both rationalist and constructivist approaches in explaining China{\textquoteright}s foreign policy behavior toward multilateral institutions after the Cold War. Borrowing insights from socialization theory and operational code analysis, this paper suggests a {\textquoteleft}superficial socialization{\textquoteright} argument to explain China{\textquoteright}s pro-multilateralist diplomacy after the Cold War. Using operational code analysis to examine belief changes across three generations of Chinese leadership and on different occasions, we argue that China{\textquoteright}s pro-multilateralist behavior is a product of {\textquoteleft}superficial socialization{\textquoteright}, in which Chinese foreign policy elites change their beliefs about the outside world and regarding the future realization of their political goals in multilateral institutions. However, Chinese policy makers have not changed their instrumental beliefs regarding strategies even in multilateral institutions. China is indeed socialized through multilateral institutions, but its scope is still far from the {\textquoteleft}fundamental socialization{\textquoteright} stage when states{\textquoteright} interests, preferences, and even identities change.",
author = "Kai He and Huiyun Feng",
year = "2015",
doi = "10.1017/S1755773914000241",
language = "English",
volume = "7",
pages = "401 – 426",
journal = "European Political Science Review",
issn = "1755-7739",
publisher = "cambridge university press (cup)",
number = "3",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Transcending Rationalism and Constructivism: Chinese Leaders’ Operational Codes, Socialization Processes, and Multilateralism after the Cold War

AU - He, Kai

AU - Feng, Huiyun

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - This paper challenges both rationalist and constructivist approaches in explaining China’s foreign policy behavior toward multilateral institutions after the Cold War. Borrowing insights from socialization theory and operational code analysis, this paper suggests a ‘superficial socialization’ argument to explain China’s pro-multilateralist diplomacy after the Cold War. Using operational code analysis to examine belief changes across three generations of Chinese leadership and on different occasions, we argue that China’s pro-multilateralist behavior is a product of ‘superficial socialization’, in which Chinese foreign policy elites change their beliefs about the outside world and regarding the future realization of their political goals in multilateral institutions. However, Chinese policy makers have not changed their instrumental beliefs regarding strategies even in multilateral institutions. China is indeed socialized through multilateral institutions, but its scope is still far from the ‘fundamental socialization’ stage when states’ interests, preferences, and even identities change.

AB - This paper challenges both rationalist and constructivist approaches in explaining China’s foreign policy behavior toward multilateral institutions after the Cold War. Borrowing insights from socialization theory and operational code analysis, this paper suggests a ‘superficial socialization’ argument to explain China’s pro-multilateralist diplomacy after the Cold War. Using operational code analysis to examine belief changes across three generations of Chinese leadership and on different occasions, we argue that China’s pro-multilateralist behavior is a product of ‘superficial socialization’, in which Chinese foreign policy elites change their beliefs about the outside world and regarding the future realization of their political goals in multilateral institutions. However, Chinese policy makers have not changed their instrumental beliefs regarding strategies even in multilateral institutions. China is indeed socialized through multilateral institutions, but its scope is still far from the ‘fundamental socialization’ stage when states’ interests, preferences, and even identities change.

U2 - 10.1017/S1755773914000241

DO - 10.1017/S1755773914000241

M3 - Journal article

VL - 7

SP - 401

EP - 426

JO - European Political Science Review

JF - European Political Science Review

SN - 1755-7739

IS - 3

ER -

ID: 125700928