(incorrect) Understanding Of The Impact Of China's Foreign Policy Decisions - For Example, To The Understanding Of War And Peace

The school of political psychology has been a spotlight on the arena of foreign policy analysis. The cognitive approach takes individual decision-makers as their unit of analysis. It states that all incoming information gets interpreted in accordance with an individual's existing central beliefs and predisposition (psychological milieu) and thereafter has impact on decision-making. It comes routinely for Chinese scholars to apply to historiography approach and to concentrate on review of history of Chinese foreign policy. The policymaking process is not well paid attention to. Rarely is the perception of decision-makers taken into account. What practically determines in Chinese foreign policy making, however, is assessment of international situation, especially perception of war and peace by Chinese leadership. The diplomatic strategy of China is actually oriented toward changes of perception of decision-makers. Therefore I am trying to explain how perceptions of Chinese leadership take effect on foreign policy making by comparing consequent perceptions in different period. Furthermore, I hope my analysis on how decision-makers shape such perceptions could present a clue to how key beliefs of individuals influence their perceptions, thereby, foreign policy making.