The Changing Role of Leaders in Chinese Foreign Policy Making Process

Abstract

China has experienced a long period of rapid economic development. As a result, China has become one of the world's most important economic actors. The transformations China has experienced have made the foreign policy-making process quite complex. In the Chinese political system, leaders have always played a critical role in foreign policy making. However, the role of the leader has become more important since Xi Jinping came to power. This article mainly examines how Chinese leaders, and Xi Jinping in particular, play a role in foreign policy making. This study basically seeks to answer the question to what extent Chinese leaders have power and influence in foreign policy making. China's current economic and political structure does not allow leaders to come to power who would cause major upheavals in the overall direction of the country. This study basically argues that no matter how powerful they try to be, Chinese leaders have limited power and influence in foreign policy making. This study is based on constructivism’s analysis of the agent-structure problem.

Keywords

• Chinese Foreign Policy
• Foreign Policy Decision Making
• Leaders
• Xi Jinping

Çin Dış Politika Yapım Sürecinde Liderlerin Değişen Rolü

Öz

Çin uzun süren hızlı bir ekonomik kalkınma deneyimi yaşadı. Bu süreç sonunda Çin dünyanın en önemli ekonomik aktörlerinden biri haline geldi. Çin'in yaşadığı dönüşümler dış politika yapım sürecini oldukça karmaşık bir hale getirmiştir. Çin siyasal sisteminde liderler her zaman dış politika yapım sürecinde kritik bir role sahip olmuşlardır. Ancak liderin rolü, Xi Jinping’in iktidara gelmesiyle birlikte daha fazla önem kazandı. Bu makale esas olarak Çinli liderlerin, özellikle de Xi Jinping’in dış politika yapımında nasıl bir rol oynadığını incelemektedir. Bu çalışma temelde dış politika yapımında Çinli liderlerin ne ölçüde bir gücü ve etkisi olduğu sorusuna cevap aramaktadır. Çin’in günümüzde sahip olduğu ekonomik ve politik yapısı, ülkenin genel gidişatında büyük çalkantılara yol açacak liderlerin iktidara gelmesine izin vermemektedir. Bu çalışma temelde, ne kadar güçlü olmaya çalışırlarsa çalışsınlar, Çinli liderlerin dış politika yapımında sınırlı bir güce ve etkiye sahip olduklarını iddia etmektedir. Bu çalışma, aktör-yapı problemine dair sosyal inşacı analizi temel almaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Çin Dış Politikası
• Dış Politika Karar Alma Süreci
• Liderler
• Xi Jinping

Kaynakça

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