The development of social architecture in modern China and its impact on Chinese foreign policy

The transformation of China's foreign policy is currently a key topic of research in the field of international relations. Established approaches to analyzing the PRC's foreign policy strategy rely on Western international relations theories grounded in concepts such as the international system, national interests, and domestic politics. The weakness of these approaches lies in their failure to account for the deep-seated social determinants of state policy. This article proposes a socio-architectural approach to identify and analyze the link between the transformation of Chinese society and shifts in the country’s foreign policy strategy. The authors highlight three key aspects of 21st-century social shifts that have driven fundamental changes and shaped the mechanisms of their implementation in the PRC’s foreign policy during the Xi Jinping era: structural changes —specifically the growth of the middle class — technological modernization (the development of high-tech industry), and the resurgence of traditional values in public consciousness. This study emphasizes that analyzing the PRC’s foreign policy course within the context of the current international situation should not be limited to the political level alone. To understand China’s foreign policy strategy, it is essential to take into account the internal processes and changes that largely shape the country’s foreign policy.