Page 157 - 《国际安全研究》2020年第6期

Vo1. 38, No. 6, November/December 2020
Northwest Normal University; YANG Mingtuo, Ph.D. Student, College of Foreign
Languages & Literature, Northwest Normal University (Lanzhou, 730070).

86 “Xiong Tong Predicament”: Identity Politics and Security Dilemma
in International System
GE Hanwen

[Abstract] “Xiong Tong Predicament” refers to the dual problem faced by the rising
power that is met with outright hostility from the current international system due to its
“heterogeneous identity” and suppressed by the hegemonic power along with its allies
due to the growing national strengths of the rising power. The historical experience of
the State of Chu during the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period
indicates that a rising power, having a dramatically different political identity and
possessing increasing national strengths and the resulting capacity to change the balance
of power, will trigger more vehement and hostile reactions from the hegemonic power
and its allies in the existing international system. There are two ways for the rising
power to escape from the “Xiong Tong Predicament” that are totally opposing in terms
of their logic, paths and effects. One aims to subvert the existing international system by
force. The other intends to break the identity consensus of the current international
system, which involves the long-term, consistent, flexible and steadfast application of
strategic combination of non-military and military means. Currently, China, with its
rapid growth of national strengths, is facing increasing pressure from the hegemonic
power and its allies who hold deep-rooted distrust and considerable hostility towards it
whose international political identity is defined as “The Other” opposite to that of the
US-led Western countries. Remaining committed to peace and development, China
needs to follow a strategic path that helps escape from the “Xiong Tong Predicament”
by changing other countries’ intentions and behaviors as well as building and promoting
a new “identity consensus”.
[Keywords] Xiong Tong Predicament, hegemony, rising power, identity, strategy,
China
[Author] GE Hanwen, Associate Professor, International Studies College, National
University of Defense Technology (Nanjing, 210039).

105 On National Security Thoughts in Western Zhou Dynasty: A Perspective
of National Security Studies
XIN Wen and HAN Pengjie
[Abstract] Given that the Western Zhou Dynasty is an epitome of ancient Chinese
states, it is of great theoretical and realistic significance to explore the national
security thoughts of the Western Zhou Dynasty so as to enrich the theoretical
connotation of the national security discipline, improve the theoretical system of
national security studies and promote the construction of the philosophy of social
sciences with Chinese characteristics. Since national security studies is an integrated,
comprehensive and practical discipline, focusing on national security thoughts of the
Western Zhou Dynasty from the theoretical perspective of national security studies
serves not only as a supplement to the research on ancient Chinese security thoughts
but also as an ideological resource for the formulation of practical national security
strategies. The contributing factors of national security in the Western Zhou Dynasty
covered such two major domains as “nature” and “society” that include geographic
location, population composition, land system, political system and social system.
Based on the understanding of these elements, the Western Zhou Dynasty was able
to form its national security thoughts with political security, military security and

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