International Cooperation Theory: Animadverting And Constructing

The research of modern international cooperation theories originated in the west. Since 40^th 20centuries, the main international relations theories such as Realism, Neo-liberal Institutionalism and Constructivism all involved international cooperation. Generally speaking, realism annotated international relations in perspective of power and took a pessimistic attitude toward international cooperation, while Neo-liberal Institutionalism held opposite opinion. Constructivism and the British school also discussed the international cooperation. As a result, variable international cooperation theories with their own characteristics have been formed. These international cooperation theories can be named Power-cooperation Theory (Hegemony-Cooperation Theory), Institution- cooperation Theory, Culture-cooperation Theory and Society-cooperation Theory. However, dispute existed among them. Objectively speaking, shortages exist in the theories of western international cooperation. Firstly, the research of western international cooperation theories is still at preliminary stage and far from forming complete system. Secondly, western international cooperation theories contain shortages in ontology and methodology and own obvious characteristic of west -centrism. Though the scholars of international relations in China started later than those western researchers in researching of international cooperation theories, there still exist the phenomenons of preferring conflict to cooperation.On basis of criticizing western main international cooperation theories, this article tried to have a construction of international cooperation theory. In the first place, the basic opinions in this article are as showed: Firstly, critically accepting "the State of Lockean-anarchy" of international politics. Secondly, insisting on state-centric political stand while constructing international relations theories. Thirdly, holding view that what nations pursue is not power but capability. Therefore, what is called international cooperation is the process of nation' adjusting their policies and behavior in order to meet each other's real or potential capability-required.Then, the hypotheses of this article are as followed: firstly, the attribute of international relations affair decides that international society is the stage of contesting of capability. The distribution of nations' capability decides international relations' total situation. In international politics, the direct object of nations is making up and enforcing...