China’s global civilization initiative: historical, cultural foundations and challenges for implementation

The relevance of the research topic is determined by the importance of understanding contemporary Chinese foreign policy approaches in the context of China's rapidly growing role in global governance and attempts to reshape the international order based on civilizational pluralism and true multilateralism. The Global Civilization Initiative is an important element of China's contemporary approach to transforming global governance, relying on non-powerful, humanitarian interaction-oriented approaches in the context of geopolitical turbulence and fragmentation. The subject of the study is the historical and cultural foundations of the Global Civilization Initiative and the main obstacles to its implementation. The theoretical basis of the study is the approaches of the constructivist school of thought, supplemented by the theoretical framework of moral realism. The scientific novelty of the study is provided by a balanced approach to the choice of methodology and sources demonstrating Chinese and Western approaches to the analysis of the PRC's GCI. The author draws conclusions about the significant role of the Global Civilization Initiative in the PRC's foreign policy in the context of global transformations in the international system. The ideas of Confucianism and Taoism embodied in the works of Chinese philosophers and transformed into modern concepts by contemporary Chinese theorists serve as a value base for this concept. An important distinction of such a normative framework is its focus on achieving common harmony through cooperation and mutual respect. The main obstacle to the realization of this initiative is the opposition of the U.S., which is increasing with the growing tensions between the two countries and China's “rise” . China in this case emphasizes the moral component of international relations, offering other countries a new model of coexistence and cooperation for common development.

China, USA, civilization, international development, international system, BRI, Africa, culture, global governance, UN