CONSTRUCTIVISM AND RISE OF CHINA
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The structuring of the global world order can be described through the lenses of several
theories of international relations (Mingst, McKibben and Arreguin-Toft 2018). Since the birth
of the nation states and their rise to power and influence in the international sphere, the theorists
of international relations have found it necessary to understand the world and the positioning of
such nation states. In this regard, the theories such as those of realism, liberalism, neo liberalism
and constructivism emerged in the global context (Mingst, McKibben and Arreguin-Toft 2018).
This essay tries to understand the rise of China through the lens of theory of constructivism in
international relations.
The People’s Republic of China has emerged to be one of the most powerful nations of
the world in the contemporary time period. The article titled “Journey to the West: China
Debates Its ‘Great Power’ Identity” analyzes this rise to power of the country (Suzuki 2014). The
author believes that the identity of a state and its recognition to its rise to power is dependent on
the recognition provided by the Western state leaders. The identity which is accorded to the
nation states of the world is considered to be a relational concept.
In this regard, it can be observed that the article can be best understood through the lens
of the theory of constructivism. One of the main advocators of the constructivist theory was that
of Alexander Wendt and he believed that the ideas of peace and chaos were constructed through
the ideas held by the state leaders (Kubálková 2015). In this sense, it can be seen that the
constructivist theory believes that the social world is generally dependent on the ideas and the
beliefs held by the leaders of such nation states.
The author of the article believes that the discourse of Occidentalism has gained a strong
foot hold in the Asian countries, especially with regards to China (Suzuki 2014). The discourse
on Occidentalism believes in the notion of Western hegemony and the ability of the Western

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