ThoughtsontheConceptof“Nation”

NiuXinchun

Abstract: In the West, the concept of “nation” has a distinct meaning of state and modernity, and is almost a synonym of “modern states”. The traditional Chinese word “minzu” is a historical-cultural concept that can refer to all social groups with certain cultural commonalities. Since “nation” was translated as “minzu” at the turn of the 20th century, the two concepts have not been compatible with each other. Mismatch and misplacement of the two concepts existed for a long time. Before 1949, the meaning of state in “nation” was forcibly transplanted to the word “minzu”, which caused both confusion and negative effects. After 1949, the Chinese still misused Stalin’s definition of “nation”, which caused unnecessary academic debates and brought trouble to ethnic identification. In the past 30 years, China’s international interactions have increased. A series of basic concepts based on “nation” have frequently appeared in the study of international issues, and the impact of misplacement of concepts has spread to the research field of international issues and mass media. If the concept of “guozu” is introduced to correspond with the concept of “nation”, the burden of the concept “minzu” will be reduced, and the confusion and dislocation of concepts over the past 100 years will be corrected.

Keywords:nation, ethnic group, international studies

OnTrump’sExtremePressureonVenezuela

HuangZhong

Abstract: The Trump administration has imposed extreme pressure on Madura’s government since Trump took office. The primary pressure includes economic sanctions against the country and individuals as well. Other measures include political penetration and diplomatic containment. The catalyst of the pressure is participation in coups and limited military threats. However, Trump’s policy has not achieved its goal. The reason are as follows. The Trump administration has not made up its mind to use force to attack Venezuela; the Venezuela opposition is less able to lead the country out of the trouble than Madura; the opposition’s political skill is immature; the US extreme pressure policy has not earned any moral support; and Madura is still able to get some international support. Although Venezuela has suffered a lot due to Trump administration’s sanctions, the US is also faced with the predicament of extreme pressure policy. Its influence on Latin-America and its international image will further decline.

Keywords:the US, Venezuela, maximum pressure

TheCausesandEvaluationoftheChangesinTrump’sNationalSecurityCouncil

SunChenghao

Abstract: Inheriting the “three-level-model” of the previous administration, the National Security Council (NSC) of the Trump administration has witnessed minor changes without major reforms. Influenced by Trump’s governance and management style as president, and informal policy process, the new features of NSC are distinctive in the facts that the mechanism is in a state of flux and the formal policy process is heavily undermined. The different National Security Advisors also shaped the performance of the NSC. In retrospect of the past decades, the changing power structure both in the world and Washington and the national security challenges the U.S. faces become the significant impetus for NSC to change its course. Lastly, the decision of the president on how to define and use the NSC will shape the structure and efficiency of the mechanism.

Keywords:Trump, NSC, national security adviser, assessment of mechanism

OntheImpactofBrexit

ZhangJian

abstract: After Brexit, Britain itself, the European Union as well as the British-European relations will be undergoing great changes, which will have a far-reaching strategic impact on international politics possibly beyond our current expectations. The UK will be faced with many difficulties in the short term, but may also come across new developmental opportunities in the long run. The balance of power within the EU will change greatly, and new progress may be achieved in the fields of diplomacy and defense; but at the same time, internal suspicions among member states will increase, and a series of new contradictions may occur. Whether it is successful or not in its developmental course after leaving the EU, Britain will be bugging the EU for a long time. A Britain trapped in trouble after Brexit may hold a grudge against the EU, but a Britain that develops well after Brexit will create a new model that is different from its membership inside the EU, which becomes an example for other half-hearted members to follow, leading to instability within the EU and even degenerating it into a free trade area. Britain is an important country with global influence. Changes in the British-European relations will exert a profound geopolitical influence. Great changes will take place in relations between Britain and the United States, Europe and the United States, Britain and Russia, as well as the broader relations between the East and the West. The future relationship among great powers will be more complex. As a country with close relations with both Britain and the EU, China will also be widely and deeply affected.

Keywords:Great Britain, Brexit, European Union, geopolitics

(Edited by Zhao Jinfu)