A Concise History of International Relations (1945--2002)

Author: Xiao Yue
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: After the Cold War, the world entered a transitional period where the old structure was broken, but a new one had not yet formed. The direction of the international structure is a matter of differing views among countries. Most countries believe that globalization is a trend, that the world should be composed of multiple powers, social systems, development models, and values, forming a balance and restraint to maintain world peace. However, the United States, as the only superpower after the Cold War, intensifies its strategy of global domination, attempting to establish a unipolar world led by the United States. This creates instability in major-country relations and in the international situation. The fundamental characteristics of contemporary international relations are that international relations occur within a holistic, interconnected, and coexisting system, with countries experiencing varying degrees of interdependence and competition. Under certain historical conditions, the evolution of the international structure reflects the basic characteristics of contemporary international relations. A structure refers to the inherent structure and operational state of a thing, and the international structure is a core issue of international relations, formed by the comparison, interaction, and combination of major international forces within a certain period. The connotation of the international structure includes three aspects: it is a relatively stable structure formed by several power centers on the international stage; it is a certain degree of balance between several major countries or groups; and it forms a certain system, institutions, and order.