Absence of Subjectivity in the Study of International Law in China: Reflection and Disenchantment

On the world stage, China still lacks the international discourse power commensurate with its hard power. In order to create the Chinese discourse on the International Rule of Law, it is necessary to improve the interpretive capacity of China’s international law, which requires approaching the fundamental problem of the lack of subjectivity in the study of international law in China at the present time as well as a deep disenchantment of traditional notions of international law and the mainstream international law study paradigms that underpin them. Based on the current status of international law study in China, we should, first of all, advocate focusing on the two basic dimensions of the study path. That is, both intra-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary integration of the discipline of international law should be gradually realized. Secondly, it should continue to promote the effective interaction between the theory and practice of international law. Lastly, the content of international law textbooks should be improved at the basic level and gradually become more and more localized.