Confucian Ethics and Strategic Dimensions in China's Global Diplomacy

In the global arena of the 21st century, China has significantly expanded its influence through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and increased investments in security, including peacekeeping missions and conflict mediation under the UN framework. This rise has spurred interest in the strategic motivations driving China’s global engagements, particularly the potential influence of its Confucian heritage. While China’s economic and diplomatic outreach grows, understanding how its strategies are shaped by the interplay of modern aspirations and traditional philosophies remains a critical area of inquiry.

This Research Topic aims to explore how Confucianism informs the ethical framework and strategic applications of China’s foreign policy. It seeks to uncover how enduring Confucian values—such as harmony, hierarchy, moral leadership, and reciprocity—manifest within China's international ambitions. The goal is to articulate the nuanced intersections of these principles with China's external engagements across various scales and institutional contexts.

To enrich this exploration, the Research Topic will delineate the boundaries of China’s foreign policy through a Confucian lens. We invite contributions that delve into:
• The integration of Confucianism into China’s political and diplomatic discourse
• The application of Confucian principles in contemporary diplomatic strategies
• The role of Confucian values in conflict mediation and peacekeeping efforts
• The impact of moral leadership and reciprocity on bilateral and multilateral relations
• The influence of Confucian hierarchy on China’s approach to global governance
• Confucianism as a veneer for political interests
• Convergence and divergence between Confucianism and other Chinese foreign policy norms

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Confucianism, China’s foreign policy, international diplomacy, peacekeeping, global governance, moral leadership

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.