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Psychology as a system component: the deterrence logic of communication in China

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Abstract

The article investigates how China uses two distinct communication strategies: peace-focused language with positive gestures and assertive speech promising retaliation. It challenges the typical view that the first approach indicates status quo orientation and the second suggests aggressive change. Instead, the study suggests that China’s peaceful rhetoric is used to undermine Western international norms, subtly promoting gradual change. In contrast, its bold language is more about maintaining face and reputation. The study employs systems theory to understand the psychological patterns that guide China’s use of these opposing strategies. Additionally, the article links China’s foreign policy actions to broader theories of international relations behavior, contributing to discussions about the interplay between individual agents and larger structures.

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Notes

  1. Wang summarizes China’s identity conundrum as 1) the strongest developing country with a big power gap vis-à-vis advanced nations; 2) a major Asian power, quickly extending its interests and influence across the globe, yet unable to play a leading role; 3) a socialist power undergoing a profound transformation; however, without complete unification of its territory and still facing the threat of secession; and 4) a beneficiary, participator, and reformer of the international system under the constraints of Western rules, norms, and institutions.

  2. For instance, during the 95th anniversary of the CCP in 2016, Xi proposed the ‘Four Confidences’ (sige zixin), calling for the nation to be ‘confident in our chosen path, confident in our guiding theories, confident in our political system, and confident in our culture.’.

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Acknowledgement

The author wishes to express gratitude to the editor and the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. An earlier version of this article benefited from the guidance, support, and feedback of Professors Young Ho Kim, Yeonsik Choi, Dae-yeob Yoon, Jungmi Cha, Byungwon Woo, Taehee Whang and participants at the Yonsei Political Science Association seminar in 2023.

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    Youngjune Chung

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Chung, Y. Psychology as a system component: the deterrence logic of communication in China. Int Polit (2024). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41311-024-00558-9

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