The question of how China is likely to shape the future trajectory of global governance is now of fundamental importance to contemporary debates in international relations. At a time of growing geopolitical anxiety, concerns are rising that China may be seeking to undermine the current Western dominated international order by pursuing its own agenda that is counter to pre-existing liberal norms and practices. While an aggressive revisionist strategy is difficult to identify in practice, it is becoming increasingly clear that China is now playing a more active role in shaping international norms to align with its own interests.

This lecture investigates China’s normative contribution to global governance by looking at both the economic development and security realms, paying particular attention to new norms relating to food security, conflict resolution, and peace-building. A strong Chinese preference for ‘learning by doing’ rather than ‘learning by principle’ is evident in both realms and presents a constraint upon concerted action. This does not necessarily mean, however, that China is intent on subverting liberal order.

Katherine Morton is Associate Dean for Research at the College of Asia and the Pacific and Senior Fellow in the Department of International Relations, The Australian National University.

She is a specialist on China and International Relations with a particular focus on environmental and climate governance, non-traditional security, regional cooperation, and international norms.

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