A relational theory of world politics. By Yaqing Qin

摘要

Yaqing Qin's A relational theory of world politics-the first fully developed approach to International Relations (IR) theory from a Chinese scholar to be published in English-is motivated by the desire to look at IR from a different perspective. In the first part of the book, Qin describes how his approach is premised on the understanding that culture matters. He contends that social theory has a metaphysical core based on the background knowledge of a 'cultural community'. Culture therefore not only shapes existing mindsets and approaches but can serve as a resource for theoretical innovation (p. 55).