论述改革与中华人民共和国：可行性及应用评估

Abstract

如何變化中華人民共和國的內部話語環境以此改變本國的國際行為？本文評估如何促成改变中國共產黨習近平总书记中華民族伟大复兴叙述的可能性和潜在的意味。本文专门探索外当如何分别領土完整及伟大复兴的重要性；從而擺脫中华民族共和国領土收復主義给亚太区域带来稳定平衡。

What are the prospects for changing the People’s Republic of China’s international behavior by facilitating changes to its internal discourse environment? This thesis evaluates the possibilities and implications of inducing changes to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping’s conception of Chinese National Rejuvenation, with a particular aim of discounting the importance of territorial integrity; thereby moderating PRC behavior to transition away from irredentism. The theoretical framework of this study combines Hayden White’s conceptualization of metahistorical narratives, with David E. Apter and Tony Saich’s model for discourse creation and change. Under this framework, I use Taiwan as a single case study to test against one conceptualization of strategic communications, utilized as a vehicle for discourse change. This study is organized into three broad parts with intervening segments. First, this study presents the introduction and theoretical background. Then, this study proceeds to reflect upon contemporary U.S. policy in order to clarify a working set of guidelines and assumptions. The final portion focuses on analyzing the potentials and efficacy of discourse change by using strategic communications directed towards Xi Jinping. The findings of this evaluation suggest that the implementation of strategic communication, as conceived of by this study, is not likely to result in changes to deeply embedded sentiments of territorial integrity. Nor, as a consequence, result in profound changes to “National Rejuvenation.” These are due to a combination of the limitations of Xi’s power as well as a lack of a cohesive national vision on the part of the United States. Be that as it may, these methods may continue to reinforce short-term deterrence against the PRC’s decision to change the regional status-quo. Put together, such methods may afford the United States some degree of flexibility by providing necessary time to coalesce around a national narrative to guide a new grand strategy.