China and its impact on the process of globalisation

Abstract

As a student I was always fascinated by the Far East. From my early years of study in both the fields of history and international relations I was overwhelmed by the possibilities that this particular region of the globe could offer to the Western countries and how much could be achieved if there was a true sense of engagement between these two very prominent and dynamic regions of the world. In parallel I had a growing passion for the notion of globalisation and the benefits of interdependence. My dissertation will outline the developing concepts of globalisation and interdependence over the years and how they have changed dramatically the relations between China and the other countries and regions in the world. Whilst conducting my studies I realised that my greatest interest was in how I could really understand and contribute to the process of globalisation and the stimulation of interdependence between countries which in actual fact is affecting our daily lives. Therefore in the choice for my dissertation title I decided that I should bond these two fields of study which were so relevant to my studies and come up with a dissertation title which could contribute the most to the development of foreign policy decision making and to the international environment. China was definitely my first and primary choice due to my great interest in the country and also due to the prominence the People's Republic of China was receiving on a very frequent basis on all the major international affairs journals both locally and overseas. This dissertation will be delving deeply on the issues of globalisation and its impact on China whilst focusing on the local and international negotiations over time. Focus will also be given to the issues in relations to the social, cultural and economic imperatives. The purpose of this is to enable one to better understand, appreciate and learn the turmoil's this country of such great geopolitical dimensions was passing through with regards to domestic policy and in relation to international relations. The methods used to highlight these developments include empirical research while also looking at research as available in the journals and in the literature available, together with personal intervention with particular emphasis given to an objective and realistic literature understanding. China's ambitions, in the context of globalisation, will also be deeply analysed in both a global and regional perspective. China's commitment to several international institutions will also be of relevance. Above all, an emphasis will be put on the evolution of China's foreign policy agenda in context of the new realities imposed by globalisation and by the rise of technocratic leadership in China. An appreciation will be given on the contradictions present on several levels in Chinese policy making. Contradictions which spring from the apparent stagnation of political evolution and the perpetration of the monolith structure of the authoritarian state. An authoritarian state which is constantly clashing with other liberal forces which are developing in Chinese society. These deep cleavages and the creation of a dual economy and society will have to be dealt with in the future and are of major concern for this dissertation. This dissertation will try to achieve a thorough understanding of the process of globalisation and its affect on China and ultimately how this is affecting policy decisions on several levels. The theoretical and practical links between the rise of Chinese relative power in the international scene and the total embrace of globalisation and interdependence are definitely the main thrust in this paper.