Abstract

After the Global Financial Crisis, the United States and China have been in competition over a “standard of civilization” which not only affects the relationship between the two powers but also the interactions between the cultures of the West and the East. Since World War II, particularly in the post-Cold War era, the United States has been emphasizing democracy as the global “standard of civilization.” For Washington the “civilization” or “advancement” of a state is judged by its level of adopting democratic values and system. Naturally for the United States, the spread of democracy is regarded as a major diplomatic goal while it also helps to preserving its cultural dominance. In recent days, the United States has even tried to maintain the cultural hegemony of the West through new “alliances.” China has seen a growth in interest of Chinese or East Asian ‘standard of civilization’ due to its steady economic growth. Particularly the goal of establishing a “Harmonious World” which the Chinese government has set as its main foreign policy agenda contains an aspect of countering the Western “standard of civilization.” It is also notable that academia and intellectuals in China are working to strengthen the foundation and legitimacy of a “harmonious world” by connecting it with China’s Confucius tradition.

The full text in Korean is available here