International identity construction: China’s pursuit of the responsible power identity and the American Other

IF 2.7 1区社会学 Q1 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

European Journal of International Relations Pub Date : 2022-09-01 DOI:10.1177/13540661221117029

H. Boon

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

How should one understand the construction of a state’s identity in the international system—its international identity? In this article, I attempt to provide richer answers. Drawing insights from social psychology, specifically Social Identity Theory and Identity Theory, I provide a micro-account of identity construction to better specify the mechanisms and logics through which international identity is constructed. This framework proposes the following general arguments about international identity formation. First, the construction of international identity is interpreted as a process of role negotiation between the state Self and relevant Other, animated by the mechanisms of self-categorization, alter’s casting, and role appraisal. Second, the collective motivations of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-consistency drive state identity change or continuity. As a plausibility probe, I apply the framework to a current analysis of China’s construction of an international identity as a “responsible” power in recent years, with a corresponding focus on the United States as the primary Other.

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国际认同建构:中国对负责任大国认同的追求与美国他者

人们应该如何理解一个国家在国际体系中的身份建构——它的国际身份？在这篇文章中，我试图提供更丰富的答案。从社会心理学，特别是社会身份理论和身份理论中，我提供了一个身份建构的微观描述，以更好地说明国际身份建构的机制和逻辑。该框架提出了以下关于国际身份形成的一般性论点。首先，国际身份的建构被解释为国家自我与相关他者之间的角色协商过程，由自我分类、角色塑造和角色评价机制驱动。其次，自尊、自我效能和自我一致性的集体动机驱动状态认同的改变或延续。作为一个合理性调查，我将该框架应用于近年来中国作为“负责任”大国构建国际身份的当前分析，并相应地关注美国作为主要的其他国家。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

European Journal of International Relations INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS-

CiteScore

6.60

自引率

8.80%

发文量

期刊介绍： The European Journal of International Relations publishes peer-reviewed scholarly contributions across the full breadth of the field of International Relations, from cutting edge theoretical debates to topics of contemporary and historical interest to scholars and practitioners in the IR community. The journal eschews adherence to any particular school or approach, nor is it either predisposed or restricted to any particular methodology. Theoretically aware empirical analysis and conceptual innovation forms the core of the journal’s dissemination of International Relations scholarship throughout the global academic community. In keeping with its European roots, this includes a commitment to underlying philosophical and normative issues relevant to the field, as well as interaction with related disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. This theoretical and methodological openness aims to produce a European journal with global impact, fostering broad awareness and innovation in a dynamic discipline. Adherence to this broad mandate has underpinned the journal’s emergence as a major and independent worldwide voice across the sub-fields of International Relations scholarship. The Editors embrace and are committed to further developing this inheritance. Above all the journal aims to achieve a representative balance across the diversity of the field and to promote deeper understanding of the rapidly-changing world around us. This includes an active and on-going commitment to facilitating dialogue with the study of global politics in the social sciences and beyond, among others international history, international law, international and development economics, and political/economic geography. The EJIR warmly embraces genuinely interdisciplinary scholarship that actively engages with the broad debates taking place across the contemporary field of international relations.