Chinese Civilian Foreign Policy Research Institutes: Evolving Roles and Increasing Influence

Abstract

A more pragmatic Chinese foreign policy and a more bureaucratic policy-making process have increased the opportunities for China's civilian research institutes to affect foreign policy. Beijing's growing involvement in the international community has created increased demand for research and analysis to aid Chinese leaders in making informed decisions. A more pluralistic and competitive policy environment has given analysts at think tanks more influence, but has also created new competition from analysts and authors working outside the traditional research institute system. This article examines the evolving role of Chinese civilian foreign policy research institutes, their relationships to policy makers, and the pathways through which they provide input into Chinese foreign policy formulation. It provides an overview of the key civilian research institutes, identifies important trends affecting them, and examines the roles and functions they play. The article concludes with an assessment of sources of policy influence within the Chinese foreign policy process."It used to be easy to be a Chinese diplomat. You just memorized the two phrases that defined the current policy and repeated them over and over. It's much harder now. You have to know about everything." Former Chinese Diplomat

China's Foreign Policy Think Tanks: Changing Roles and Structural Conditions

“…10 In addition to several aforementioned authors, see Bondiguel and Kellner (2010), Glaser and Saunders (2002), Lampton (2001), Li (2006), Tanner (2002.…”

“…3 In particular, China Quarterly dedicated a whole issue to this topic in 2002: Gill and Mulvenon (2002) discuss military-related research organizations; Glaser and Saunders (2002) focus on foreign policy think tanks; Shambaugh (2002) tackles the closely related field of research institutes in the field of IR. In addition to these contributions, Shai and Stone (2004) discuss the influence of Chinese history and culture on the development of China's system of foreign policy think tanks.…”

“…While there do not seem to be any studies that focus specifically on media activity, Glaser and Saunders (2002) and Zhu (2009) treat this as one aspect of influence in general. Shambaugh (2002) and Shai and Stone (in Stone and Denham (eds), 2004) provide comparative accounts of several institutes but focus mostly on factors such as size, prestige and administrative linkages.…”

An Alternative Explanation for Anti-Japanese Sentiment in China: Shifting State-Society Interaction in China's Japan Policy

“…They still must be aware of the political limits tolerated by the government, but "there is no question that the boundaries have broadened over time" (Bush 2010, 192). Research conducted by intellectuals and research institutes also has an increased influence on China's foreign policy (Glaser and Saunders 2002;Shambaugh 2002). Greater academic and political freedom gives researchers more opportunities to access archives that were inaccessible in the past and to reinterpret the events of the war freer of the previous constraints imposed by the government (Rose 2005, 11).…”

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“…This is particularly evident in the field of international relations research. Civilian (or nonmilitary) international relations research institutes have become a weighty part of the Chinese government for foreign policy decisions and information analysis as well as an increasingly important link between Chinese government officials and foreign experts (Glaser and Saunders, 2002;Shambaugh, 2002). In addition, they are also able to advocate their opinions through domestic mainstream media and overseas media in a freer manner (Glaser and Saunders, 2002;Tanner, 2002).…”