International Quarterly of Foreign Relations

International Quarterly of Foreign Relations

China's Global Role and Its Implications for Iran: An Analysis Based on Rosecrance's Cycle of Power Theory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Associate Professor of Political Geography, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
2 Ph.D. student of Political Geography, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/fr.2025.504211.1638
Abstract
The East Asian region, consisting of two geopolitical areas, North East (China, Japan, Korean Peninsula) and South East Asia, is one of the most important strategic regions in the international system. In the meantime, China, which has a communist political structure in the East Asian region and is an emerging power, is considered to be the most prominent country in the competition with world powers. In the 21st century, China's policy makers, based on the theory of Rosecrance, seek to adopt strategic opportunities in the country's development, remove external obstacles and promote a new role in the international system in order to aintain the ruling ideology and pursue their domestic and foreign political intentions. Currently, China, as an active activist and an emerging power, has challenged the new world order and is trying to play an active role in the world.The emerging structure is expanded in two parts and has political, security, and economic dimensions as twins, and the said dimensions are complementary to each other. From the geographical point of view, the main core of the emerging structure is applied to the northern part of the northern hemisphere of the earth (north-north) and its geographical direction is east-west. A precise understanding of the aforementioned impact requires a two-way understanding from the geostrategic point of view between China and Iran on the role of both countries. In the process of conducting the research, among the 30 interviews conducted with experts, 21 indicators were calculated in the form of 5 components of China's global role-making with 92 themes in explaining the effectiveness of Iran in China's global role-making and 78 themes in explaining the possible effects of competitors in China's global role-making.

Extended Abstract
The East Asian region, consisting of two geopolitical areas, North East (China, Japan, Korean Peninsula) and South East Asia, is one of the most important strategic regions in the international system. In the meantime, China, which has a communist political structure in the East Asian region and is an emerging power, is considered to be the most prominent country in the competition with world powers. In the 21st century, China's policy makers, based on the theory of Rosecrance, seek to adopt strategic opportunities in the country's development, remove external obstacles and promote a new role in the international system in order to aintain the ruling ideology and pursue their domestic and foreign political intentions. Currently, China, as an active activist and an emerging power, has challenged the new world order and is trying to play an active role in the world.The emerging structure is expanded in two parts and has political, security, and economic dimensions as twins, and the said dimensions are complementary to each other. From the geographical point of view, the main core of the emerging structure is applied to the northern part of the northern hemisphere of the earth (north-north) and its geographical direction is east-west.
This research seeks to analyze China's political role-playing towards global competitors by relying on Iran's structural and functional effectiveness.
Using documentary studies and exploratory interviews, the researcher collected qualitative data and extracted the research model through content analysis and coding, and using a questionnaire, the factors obtained from the exploratory interviews were judged by the statistical community and their importance. It is specified.
In this research, the researcher seeks to provide an answer to the main research question, which is China's political role-playing in the geostrategic future of the international system, Iran's effectiveness of this role-playing and the direction of its competitors?
By studying and examining the environment, it is concluded that a kind of power distribution has formed among global powers in which existential threats are the driving force behind multilateral cooperation that endures in a multipolar world. Fundamental shifts in spheres of influence have led to competition, divergence, and deglobalization. Eventually, gradual instability has led to a new network order that is influenced by shocks, developments, and reactions of global actors.
The new multilateral order, shaped by new agreements, has brought about a balance of interests between the West, China, and especially the global South. Thus, a pragmatic approach and willingness to compromise have emerged to attract neutral actors, as well as flexible cooperation with opposing powers where appropriate.
Despite its shift from insularity to greater flexibility in terms of multilateralism, China remains a pragmatic actor and is gradually trying to define its level of international engagement.This country simultaneously pursues both revisionist policies and global-regional governance policies of the status quo.This is reflected in China's willingness to invite cooperation on climate protection, foreign development, trade, and security, and its reluctance to participate in binding international agreements.
In general, in international relations, as a governance system and due to its specific geopolitical and geostrategic position, Iran must seek resilience, prosperity, and sustainable development for itself, while supporting multilateral policies to advance common interests in the form of institutional cooperation. On the other hand, by acknowledging that all major players in international relations have no permanent friends or permanent enemies in their dealings with other countries and are only seeking to maximize their national interests action must be taken in such a way that the behavior of international actors does not cause surprises and pose a vital threat to national interests.
Leading global powers that have a strong desire to influence emerging middle powers in different regions of the world They pursue their influence by building appropriate capacities, employing a wide range of influential actors, creating regional cooperation initiatives, and building a network of coalitions and partnerships.
A precise understanding of the aforementioned impact requires a two-way understanding from the geostrategic point of view between China and Iran on the role of both countries. In the process of conducting the research, among the 30 interviews conducted with experts, 21 indicators were calculated in the form of 5 components of China's global role-making with 92 themes in explaining the effectiveness of Iran in China's global role-making and 78 themes in explaining the possible effects of competitors in China's global role-making.
Keywords
Subjects

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