China's Global Civilization Initiative Helps to 'Reshape Global Politics'

On January 1st, the European website "Modern Diplomacy" published an article titled "Political Science of China's Global Civilization Initiative", written by Shakir Ahmad, the head of Pakistan's Global Sustainable Development Strategy Research Institute. The article excerpt is as follows:

The global civilization initiative proposed by China represents a profound shift in global politics.

It emphasizes the modernization concept based on peaceful development and the importance of building a community with a shared future for mankind. This initiative is closely linked to China's strategic goals and ideological framework, reflecting both China's aspirations and the global challenges of the 21st century.

The proposal of various initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative supports China's position. These initiatives aim to reshape the global governance system and promote inclusive economic globalization.

China emphasizes that Chinese path to modernization is a modernization that follows the path of peaceful development, which is in sharp contrast to the historical track of western modernization, which is often accompanied by colonialism and exploitation. In the period after the Industrial Revolution, the "civilizational mission" of the West became a colonial tool, whose role was to maintain the cultural dominance of the West and defend its imperialism. China's initiative is built on common values and mutual respect, which is different from the Western model in history.

Samuel Huntington's theory of the clash of civilizations holds that cultural and civilizational differences are the main root cause of world conflicts in the post Cold War era. But China's initiative emphasizes common values and peaceful coexistence, which can be seen as a new narrative different from Huntington's pessimistic views.

From the perspective of Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci, China's initiative can be seen as a new and historically significant idea that challenges the dominant position of Western neoliberalism. China's emphasis on global solidarity and common values reflects its conscious integration of socialist principles with its global aspirations.

China's Global Civilization Initiative provides a different narrative for the inequality caused by neoliberal globalization. Of course, achieving this vision requires addressing the inherent and structural wealth and power imbalances in the current global system.

Despite these challenges, the Global Civilization Initiative still has the potential to contribute to creating a more equitable and inclusive global order. By advocating dialogue, mutual respect, and common values, China's initiatives can promote a more just and sustainable international system.

China's Global Civilization Initiative helps reshape global politics. The successful implementation of the initiative still faces many contradictions and challenges. Ultimately, to achieve global solidarity and eliminate inequality, it is necessary to fundamentally re-examine the relationship between culture, economy, and politics, paving the way for a more equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities in the 21st century.