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Must Great Power Politics Necessarily Be Tragic? Li (力) and De (德) as Two Paradigms of Power
ID Xiang, Shuchen (Author)

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Abstract
This text contrasts two perspectives of power. The first is represented by John Mearsheimer’s “realism”, under which, power is only real when it is coercive, military might and which is comparable to the concept of li (力) in traditional Chinese political theory. This paper presents an alternative conception of power—de (德)—a non-coercive power achieved through co-empowerment. It is only under the first conception of power that forces us to the conclusion that great power competition must necessarily be tragic. This paper elucidates the governing logics of both accounts of power and shows how they have animated political life in both the European-Western and Sinitic contexts. Central to the de conception of power is the concept of min (民)—the subject of the de conception of political power. We can see an early Chinese transition from “Heaven” as the source of political power to that of the min. This paper closes with observations on the parallels between the de account of power with agriculturalism and an organicist mentality that is defining of Chinese civilization. In contrast, it draws parallels between the li account of power and the overwhelmingly “nomadic” forms of life that characterize European civilization.

Language:English
Keywords:China, international relations, politics, realism, great power competition
Organization:FF - Faculty of Arts
Publication date:01.01.2026
Year:2026
Number of pages:Str. 143-173
Numbering:Vol. 14 (30), 1
PID:20.500.12556/RUL-187577 This link opens in a new window
UDC:32
ISSN on article:2232-5131
DOI:10.4312/as.2026.14.1.143-173 This link opens in a new window
COBISS.SI-ID:290811139 This link opens in a new window
Publication date in RUL:11.09.2026
Views:68
Downloads:20
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Record is a part of a journal

Title:Asian studies
Publisher:Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
ISSN:2232-5131
COBISS.SI-ID:265206272 This link opens in a new window

Secondary language

Language:Slovenian
Abstract:
Besedilo primerja dve perspektivi moči. Prvo predstavlja »realizem« Johna Mearsheimerja, po katerem je moč resnična le, kadar gre za (prisilno) vojaško silo, ki jo je mogoče primerjati s pojmom li (力) v tradicionalni kitajski politični teoriji. V nasprotju s to pa članek predstavi alternativno pojmovanje moči – de (德) – neprisilno moč, doseženo s soopolnomočenjem. Le prva koncepcija moči nas sili v sklep, da mora biti tekmovanje velikih sil nujno tragično. Članek pojasnjuje vodilni logiki obeh pojmovanj moči in pokaže, kako sta navdihovali politično življenje tako v evropsko-zahodnem kot v sinitskem kontekstu. Osrednje mesto v koncepciji moči de ima pojem min (民) – subjekt koncepcije politične moči de. Opazimo lahko zgodnji kitajski prehod od »Neba« kot izvora politične moči k pojmu min. Članek se zaključi z ugotovitvami o vzporednicah med razlagami moči de in poljedelstvom ter organicistično miselnostjo, ki določa kitajsko civilizacijo. Po drugi strani pa oriše vzporednice med razlago moči li in pretežno »nomadskimi« oblikami življenja, ki zaznamujejo evropsko civilizacijo.

Keywords:Kitajska, mednarodni odnosi, politika, realizem, tekmovanje velikih sil

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