Chinese Scholars and Think Tanks' Constructions of China's National Interest: Hidden Hand on Demand

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Sabine Mokry

Chinese Scholars and Think Tanks' Constructions of China's National Interest

Hidden Hand on Demand

Sabine Mokry

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Hardback

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English

Routledge
14 July 2025

Social & political philosophy; Marxism & Communism; International institutions; Public opinion & polls; Political campaigning & advertising

Series: Rethinking Asia and International Relations

This book offers a systematic assessment of how International Relations scholars in mainland China and analysts at Chinese foreign policy think tanks influence the construction of China’s national interest. The detailed analysis shows how proximity to the state and the state’s signaled demand for expertise facilitate and constrain influence and puts forward a new approach for identifying influence by applying frame analysis to 150 foreign policy statements and combining it with quantitative content analysis of 4000 expert publications. Offering a new way of assessing and explaining Chinese foreign policy experts’ influence, understanding the environment in which they operate, and providing suggestions on how to analyze official foreign policy statements, this volume will be of interest to scholars of Chinese foreign policy and anyone working on expert influence in non-democratic regimes.

By: Sabine Mokry
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
Weight: 1.000kg
ISBN: 9781041024958
ISBN 10: 1041024959
Series: Rethinking Asia and International Relations
Pages: 114
Publication Date: 14 July 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

1. Introduction Argument in brief Contributions Data & methods Plan of the book 2. Theory and Empirical Strategy Experts’ ideas and China’s national interest Debates about China’s national interest Understanding China’s national interest as constructed Experts’ ideas and the construction of China’s national interest The intervening role of domestic structures Experts’ proximity to the state The state’s signaled demand for expertise Examining experts’ influence Strategies for addressing challenges Empirical implementation Conclusions 3. Foreign Policy-Making in China and Chinese Experts Foreign policy-making in China The outer circle of foreign policy-making in China Think Tanks Scholars The mechanisms of Chinese experts’ influence Think Tanks Scholars Xi Jinping’s tightened control Conclusions 4. Experts’ Influence on the Construction of China’s National Interest Overarching changes in the construction of China’s national interest Shifts in policy substance Quantitative analysis of scholars’ and think tanks’ influence Influenced policy shifts: an overview Conclusions 5. Distant Experts’ Influence Distant think tanks’ influence on the construction of China’s national interest Distant think tanks’ characteristics High demand for expertise signaled by the state How distant analysts shaped policy shifts Distant scholars’ influence on the construction of China’s national interest Distant scholars’ characteristics High demand for expertise signaled by the state How distant scholars shaped policy shifts Conclusions 6. Close Experts’ Influence Shifts in the demand for expertise signaled by the state Close think tanks’ influence on the construction of China’s national interest Close think tanks’ characteristics How close analysts shaped policy shifts Close scholars’ influence on the construction of China’s national interest Close scholars’ characteristics How close scholars shaped policy shifts 7. Conclusions Experts’ influence on the construction of China’s national interest Scholarly implications Implications for understanding China’s foreign policy Implications for researching experts and policy Limitations and further research Policy implications

Sabine Mokry is a researcher at the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg. In addition, she is an associate at the German Institute for Global and Areas Studies (GIGA). Her work examines how domestic factors shape China's foreign and security policy.

Reviews for Chinese Scholars and Think Tanks' Constructions of China's National Interest: Hidden Hand on Demand

""This first-rate book is an innovative and rigorous account of how policy analysts in China can influence the development of national interests and flesh out policy concepts emanating from leaders. It explains the important role these analysts play as policy agents and policy conduits."" - Alastair Iain Johnston, Harvard University ""Mokry’s book provides invaluable insights into China’s foreign policy by revealing how Chinese scholars and policy experts shape national interests and influence decision-making. It is essential reading for anyone striving to understand China’s behaviors and their far-reaching implications for the global order."" - Kai He, Professor of International Relations, Griffith University ""Foreigners often engage Chinese think tanks to understand and critique China’s foreign policy. But can think tanks influence an authoritarian state? Which ones? And how? Sabine Mokry’s pathbreaking book answers these questions with insight, rigor, and painstaking research."" - Thomas J. Christensen, Director, Columbia University China and the World Program