On the morning of November 7, 2015, as a part of the 2015 Beijing Forum, the panel with the theme of “Post-war International Order at 70: Evolution of its Relationship with Major Countries”, officially opened at Peking University (PKU). The panel was divided into two sessions, a morning one and an afternoon one.
Academics and experts in the field of international relations from around the world gathered at the Yingjie Exchange Center. During the morning session, the participating speakers included: Jia Qingguo, the current Dean of the School of International Relations of PKU, Wang Jisi, former Dean of the School of International Relations of PKU, Professor Thomas Fingar from Stanford University, Professor Zhao Suisheng from Denver University, Professor Ren Xiao from Fudan University, and academician Zhang Yun.
US Perspective on the Current Order
Professor Thomas Fingar believed that although the current international order had served its members well, it was in America’s interests to see the current order extensively reformed. The current international order came into existence before the end of World War II, and its inception was designed to favor the victors. Instead of colonialism and mercantilism, the victors greatly benefited through comparative advantage, such as human and scientific capital. However, in today’s multilateral world, with more than one hundred countries joining the order, the US wants to see greater participation from other countries in international affairs. The belief that “If there’s a problem, America would probably solve it” does not apply anymore. Moreover, as the current order was formed 70 years ago, Professor Fingar believed it was time for the system to accommodate the changes that had occurred during the past period.
China as a “Reformist Power”
Many people view the rise of China as a challenge to the current U.S.-led system. This is wrong according to Professor Zhao Suisheng. He explained that China was not a challenging power but a “reformist power”; it is not in China’s interests to change the status quo. China’s dissatisfaction with the current system is that its voice is not sufficiently heard. Though China has promoted its own socio-economic system, it does not intend to replace the current system, and this is because China itself has benefited greatly from currently-existing global order since it became the world’s second-largest economy after its reforms in the late 1970s. Meanwhile, after the global financial crisis in 2008, China has called for its currency, the Renminbi, to be adopted as one of the international currencies.
Keeping the Status Quo
The current international system, no matter how flawed it might be, was the best one we could ask for, explained Professor Jia Qingguo. Though the Western-led international order has failed to prevent local wars, poverty, and to some extent, climate change, it has fulfilled its original intention of preventing another world war. Furthermore, it has prevented the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, as well as ushered in unprecedented prosperity throughout the world. Throughout its 70 years of existence, the system has weathered numerous shocks and changes, such as the Cold War, globalization, and the Non-Aligned Movement. “This is not to say that the current system does not need change,” Jia said, “It means that we can further improve on an already excellent system.”
Written by: Dohun Na
Edited by: Wei Yuchen
