On September 14, 2024, Bertrand Badie, a senior professor at Sciences Po Paris and researcher at the Center for Research on International Relations (CERI), was invited to visit the School of International Studies at Nanjing University to give a lecture titled “The Subjective Approach to International Relations”.
Professor Badie is a renowned French scholar and political scientist in international relations, and a representative figure of the postmodernism school and sociological studies of International Relations. He served as a former vice-president of the Executive Committee of the International Political Science Association (IPSA), director of the Sciences Po University Press, and director of the Center for International Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. The lecture was chaired by Professor Zhu Feng, Executive Dean of the School of International Studies at Nanjing University. Over 80 students and faculty members from the School of International Studies, the School of Foreign Languages and the School of History, have attended.
Professor Badie emphasized the importance of subjectivity and cultural difference in international relations, and described how globalization has transformed traditional international relations theory and practice, arguing for the enhancement of the collective identity of the global community through equal and inclusive exchanges among a plurality of subjects. He argued, “we live in a globalized world, which means we are not isolated and we are not systematic competitors.” He advocated a new approach to international relations, calling for a move away from traditional interstate power politics and a greater focus on transnational interdependence and cooperation.
Based on a new perspective of international relations, Professor Badie bridges the gap between the macro level of international relations and the micro level of interpersonal dynamics, emphasizing the importance of global participation and strategic partnership. He creatively proposed interdependence between states and societies as an alternative to the either-or sovereignty relationship. Taking the example of personal stories from both Eastern and Western cultural backgrounds, he highlighted the significance of cultural differences and understanding. He noted that the same words and concepts have different meanings across countries and cultures due to the subjectivity generated by the diverse subjects in international relations. He also criticized the Hobbesian tradition in international politics, arguing that contemporary international relations have a distinctive trend of de-Cold Warization and globalization, and that in a globalized world, anyone can engage in international relations through public opinion, non-governmental organizations and social movements. He noted that with the rise of social media, the role of social factors in international relations has become more prominent. Given the importance of education and cultural exchanges in international cooperation, he argued, education will be one of the main pillars of global governance and we need to move beyond traditional power politics to adopt a more subjective and humane approach to study International Relations.
The lecture was followed by a Q and A session. Professor Badie interacted with the students and faculty members, and answered their questions.
(Text/Dang Dongwei; Trans./Wei Yawen; Li Lingqun)
