Empowered People, Strong Nation: The Diplomatic Ideals of China’s New Intellectuals

Vollständiger Abstract

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The new intellectuals emerged as a pivotal force in advancing social progress during modern Chinese history. They were deeply influenced by Western democratic thought, which shaped their strong sense of national concern and political participation. Central to their beliefs was the idea that “a prosperous and strong nation is built upon an empowered populace”, positioning the people as the fundamental cornerstone of national strength. This ideology naturally extended to the diplomatic sphere, where it became the basis of their critique of the Qing government’s diplomatic failures. They attributed these failures to a decaying autocratic system, a diplomacy centred on dynastic interests rather than the people, and the persistence of secret diplomacy. In response, they advocated for a for­eign policy grounded in public opinion and mass power, thus shifting China’s traditional diplomacy from imperial interests to a more people-centric approach. Through an exami­nation of the historical contributions of these new intellectuals, we can better understand their significant role in the democratization of Chinese diplomacy.