Chinese Scholars and Think Tanks' Constructions of China's National Interest Hidden Hand on Demand

1. Introduction

Argument in brief

Contributions

Data & methods

Plan of the book

2. Theory and Empirical Strategy

Experts’ ideas and China’s national interest

Debates about China’s national interest

Understanding China’s national interest as constructed

Experts’ ideas and the construction of China’s national interest

The intervening role of domestic structures

Experts’ proximity to the state

The state’s signaled demand for expertise

Examining experts’ influence

              Strategies for addressing challenges

              Empirical implementation

Conclusions

3. Foreign Policy-Making in China and Chinese Experts

Foreign policy-making in China

The outer circle of foreign policy-making in China

Think Tanks

Scholars

The mechanisms of Chinese experts’ influence

              Think Tanks

Scholars

Xi Jinping’s tightened control

Conclusions

4. Experts’ Influence on the Construction of China’s National Interest

Overarching changes in the construction of China’s national interest

Shifts in policy substance

Quantitative analysis of scholars’ and think tanks’ influence

Influenced policy shifts: an overview

Conclusions

5. Distant Experts’ Influence

Distant think tanks’ influence on the construction of China’s national interest

Distant think tanks’ characteristics

High demand for expertise signaled by the state

How distant analysts shaped policy shifts

Distant scholars’ influence on the construction of China’s national interest

Distant scholars’ characteristics

High demand for expertise signaled by the state

How distant scholars shaped policy shifts

Conclusions

6. Close Experts’ Influence

Shifts in the demand for expertise signaled by the state

Close think tanks’ influence on the construction of China’s national interest

Close think tanks’ characteristics

How close analysts shaped policy shifts

Close scholars’ influence on the construction of China’s national interest

Close scholars’ characteristics

How close scholars shaped policy shifts

7. Conclusions

Experts’ influence on the construction of China’s national interest

Scholarly implications

Implications for understanding China’s foreign policy

Implications for researching experts and policy

Limitations and further research

Policy implications

Biography

Sabine Mokry is a researcher at the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg. In addition, she is an associate at the German Institute for Global and Areas Studies (GIGA). Her work examines how domestic factors shape China's foreign and security policy.

"This first-rate book is an innovative and rigorous account of how policy analysts in China can influence the development of national interests and flesh out policy concepts emanating from leaders. It explains the important role these analysts play as policy agents and policy conduits."

 - Alastair Iain Johnston, Harvard University

 "Mokry’s book provides invaluable insights into China’s foreign policy by revealing how Chinese scholars and policy experts shape national interests and influence decision-making. It is essential reading for anyone striving to understand China’s behaviors and their far-reaching implications for the global order."

- Kai He, Professor of International Relations, Griffith University

 "Foreigners often engage Chinese think tanks to understand and critique China’s foreign policy.  But can think tanks influence an authoritarian state? Which ones? And how?  Sabine Mokry’s pathbreaking book answers these questions with insight, rigor, and painstaking research."

- Thomas J. Christensen, Director, Columbia University China and the World Program