Han Fei Zi's Realist Theory of International Relations
Han Fei Zi's theory of state-to-state relations can be taken as a forerunner of international relations(IR)theories.Given the similarities between the warring states in ancient China and those in modern Europe,this theory may still be relevant today.Through his attacks on the zong-heng strategies(纵横,maneuvering strategies applied to form alliances and sow dissen-sions among warring states),Han Fei Zi denied the role of diplomacy to national security,and proposed a theory of international peace that is based on the strength of a state.His theory reso-nates with the contemporary realistic IR theories.Unlike Shang Yang,also an important Legal-ist,Han Fei Zi paid much attention to national security,and to the self-defense of small states in particular.His discussions offer a meaningful contrast with the discussions of this issue in The Republic and Mencius.On the basis of this contrastive study,attempted is a theory of na-tional security,which indeed is a mixture of Confucianism with Legalism,and China with the West.
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