The Journal of Foreign Policy

The Journal of Foreign Policy

The Impact of Perceptual – Psychological Factors on China's Foreign Policy

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 Professor of International Relations, University of Isfahan
2 Postgraduate, International Relations
Abstract
One of the most difficult things in foreign policy analysis is to understand the way of creating foreign policy, in other words, the way of its shaping. This important phenomenon seems more difficult in China due to the complexity of the policy making process in the country, which caused many aspects of foreign policy, remained unknown to researchers. Perception of Chinese leaders regarding outside including foreign policy, is rarely affected by external forces. China's foreign policy in comparison with many other countries is mainly affected by internal processes within the power and decision-making structure. The internal factors are divided into two categories of material and perceptual-psychological factors. This article attempts to explain influence of perceptual-psychological one on the China’s foreign policy. Therefore, the article's approach is analytical-descriptive. In this article have been tried as much as possible besides referencing to each of these factors, the objective appearances of them in foreign policy of China and the weight of each of them in this process will also be mentioned. (Features of leaders, worldview of leaders, strategic culture, research institutes, media and public opinion have been considered as the factors have influence on the understanding and perception of China's leaders in foreign policy.
Keywords