Taking ideas and words seriously: explaining the institutionalization of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation
This article explores the role of China’s ideational and discursive power in shaping the interest perceptions of target states and in determining the formation of a new institution. Using the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) as a case study, this article illustrates how China framed the idea of inst...
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sg-ntu-dr.10356-1731212024-01-15T07:00:49Z Taking ideas and words seriously: explaining the institutionalization of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation Gong, Xue Li, Mingjiang S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Social sciences::Political science Ideational Power Discursive Power Development Security Southeast Asia China This article explores the role of China’s ideational and discursive power in shaping the interest perceptions of target states and in determining the formation of a new institution. Using the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) as a case study, this article illustrates how China framed the idea of institutionalization, and how such idea was proposed, articulated, deliberated, and accepted in the interactions with partner countries. Relying on a collection and coding of over 700 Chinese official texts on the LMC and extensive interviews, we analyze how the Chinese authorities have used ideas and discourses to garner support from states in the Mekong region for the establishment of the institution. This article demonstrates that China’s ideational and discursive power helps generate three outcomes: preference denying, preference cultivating, and preference empowering. Such Chinese power has helped align Mekong countries’ interest perceptions with China’s expectations in three ways: transforming water security into developmental issues, accepting Chinese proposals through tactical persuasion, and constraining alternative policies. Ministry of Education (MOE) This research / project is supported by the Ministry of Education, Singapore, under its Academic Research Fund Tier 1 (RG43/22). 2024-01-15T07:00:49Z 2024-01-15T07:00:49Z 2023 Journal Article Gong, X. & Li, M. (2023). Taking ideas and words seriously: explaining the institutionalization of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation. International Relations of the Asia-Pacific. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/irap/lcad014 1470-482X https://hdl.handle.net/10356/173121 10.1093/irap/lcad014 en RG43/22 International Relations of the Asia-Pacific © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press in association with the Japan Association of International Relations. All rights reserved. |
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Social sciences::Political science Ideational Power Discursive Power Development Security Southeast Asia China Gong, Xue Li, Mingjiang Taking ideas and words seriously: explaining the institutionalization of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation |
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This article explores the role of China’s ideational and discursive power in shaping the interest perceptions of target states and in determining the formation of a new institution. Using the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) as a case study, this article illustrates how China framed the idea of institutionalization, and how such idea was proposed, articulated, deliberated, and accepted in the interactions with partner countries. Relying on a collection and coding of over 700 Chinese official texts on the LMC and extensive interviews, we analyze how the Chinese authorities have used ideas and discourses to garner support from states in the Mekong region for the establishment of the institution. This article demonstrates that China’s ideational and discursive power helps generate three outcomes: preference denying, preference cultivating, and preference empowering. Such Chinese power has helped align Mekong countries’ interest perceptions with China’s expectations in three ways: transforming water security into developmental issues, accepting Chinese proposals through tactical persuasion, and constraining alternative policies. |
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S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies |
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S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Gong, Xue Li, Mingjiang |
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Article |
author |
Gong, Xue Li, Mingjiang |
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Gong, Xue |
title |
Taking ideas and words seriously: explaining the institutionalization of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation |
title_short |
Taking ideas and words seriously: explaining the institutionalization of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation |
title_full |
Taking ideas and words seriously: explaining the institutionalization of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation |
title_fullStr |
Taking ideas and words seriously: explaining the institutionalization of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Taking ideas and words seriously: explaining the institutionalization of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation |
title_sort |
taking ideas and words seriously: explaining the institutionalization of the lancang-mekong cooperation |
publishDate |
2024 |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10356/173121 |
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1789483222717956096 |