INFORMATION

Name: The International Norm Game in the Syrian Issue

Author: YUE Hanjing

Publisher: Current Affairs Press

Publishing Date: December 2025

ISBN: 9787519506582

Pages: 215

INTRODUCTION

In human society, various norms exist to regulate interpersonal relationships. This book analyzes and assesses the interests of major powers in the Syrian issue based on Marxist theories of interests and values, using the United States, Russia, and the quadrilateral powers of Britain, France, and Germany as representative examples. It interprets the relevant international norms by examining the primary forces involved in the geopolitical game and their respective positions and actions. The book engages with concepts such as discourse, discursive power, and soft power within international relations studies, potentially offering new supporting evidence for related theoretical research.

AUTHOR

Yue Hanjing, a native of Mengcheng, Anhui Province, is a professor at the School of Government Management, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, and an adjunct researcher at the Key Research Base for Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education at the Middle East Studies Institute, Shanghai International Studies University. He has long been dedicated to research on Middle Eastern issues, particularly the Iran nuclear issue, the Syrian crisis, and theories of international relations. He has published three academic monographs and over 70 Chinese and English papers in domestic and international academic journals such as Foreign Affairs Review, Northeast Asia Forum, International Observation, Foreign Social Sciences, West Asia and Africa, World Economy and Politics Forum, and Academic Circle. Six of these were reprinted in full by the Renmin University of China's Reprint Materials: International Politics. He has completed one National Social Science Fund project and three provincial/ministerial-level projects, and has published numerous papers on teaching and research.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Mechanism of Normative Influence on Interest Determination from a Marxist Perspective

Section 1: Marxist Interest Theory and the Process of Interest Determination

Section 2: Marxist Value Theory and the Formation Process of Value Judgments

Section 3: Fundamental Characteristics of the Interest Determination Process and the Influence of Norms Therein

Chapter 2: Focal Points and Manifestations of Great Power Rivalry in the Syrian Issue

Section 1: U.S. Interests in the Syrian Issue

Section 2: Russia's Interests in the Syrian Issue

Section 3: Britain, France, and Germany's Interests in the Syrian Issue

Section 4: Iran's Interests in the Syrian Issue

Chapter 3: The International Normative Question of “Game Theory”: “What Constitutes a Legitimate Government?”

Section 1: The New Western Norms on Legitimate Government Advocated by Intervening Powers

Section 2: Manifestations of the Issue in Perceptions of the Syrian Opposition

Section 3: Manifestations of the Issue in Military Intervention in Syria

Section 4: In-Depth Case Analysis—The U.S.-Russia Military Strikes Against ISIS in Syria

Chapter 4: International Norms in the “Game”: “Which Takes Precedence—Sovereignty or Human Rights?”

Section 1: Manifestation in the Struggle Over Implementing the “Responsibility to Protect” in Syria

Section 2: Manifestation in the Struggle Over the Syrian “Chemical Weapons Attack” Incident

Section 3: Manifestation in the Struggle Over Cross-Border Humanitarian Aid to Syria

Section 4: In-Depth Case Analysis—The U.S., U.K., and France’s Missile Strikes on Syria

Chapter 5: Outcomes of the “Game” and Implications for China

Section 1: Outcomes of the “Game”

Section 2: Implications of the “Game” for China

References