The Grip of Geography: China’s Enduring Struggle for Order and Unity

Abstract

Geography exerts a profound influence on a country’s dominant narrative, power structures, and political institutions. This chapter aims to explain why and how China’s geography has shaped its enduring centralised power structure. The chapter is structured on three crucial factors: China’s long history of coping with natural disasters such as large-scale floods, constant and devastating famines due to adverse weather and limited food imports, as well as severe security threats from a vulnerable northwest border. This chapter argues that these factors have influenced the Chinese conception of power. It is seen as a means to prevent collective destruction and promote collective prosperity. They also shaped a pragmatic approach to the role of government and political institutions that prioritise providing food and ensuring survival, as well as impacted the early conceptualisation of ‘collective security’. This chapter employs a comparative approach, contrasting the geographical features of Chinese and Western civilisations to illustrate these points.

“It [geography] shapes political institutions, power relationships, and historical narratives. No country can fully understand itself or its place in the world without a deep appreciation of its geography.” (Albright, 2006)

—Madeleine Albright, the 64th U.S. Secretary of State