A Sinologist’s Journey
This year, French sinologist Marianne Dunlop reflects on her first visit to the Chinese mainland in 1978, when she lived and studied in Shenyang and Nanjing. At that time, locals treated Western students as “precious guests,” offering seats on crowded buses and dining sessions behind screens.
A New Era of Confidence
Nearly five decades later, Dunlop argues that China has gained full confidence in its own strengths and now feels “neither inferior nor superior” to others. In her new book When France Wakes Up to China: The Long March Towards a Multipolar World, she makes the case for a balanced global order.
The Multipolar World and GGI
Dunlop highlights the China-proposed Global Governance Initiative (GGI) as a blueprint for an “equal and orderly” multipolar system. She believes this framework can ease tensions and create benefits for all nations, not just a select few.
France, BRICS, and the Future
The book even proposes France join BRICS as part of a broader European strategy. Drawing on France’s legacy as the birthplace of formal Chinese studies, Dunlop sees an opportunity to bridge Eastern and Western perspectives.
For young global citizens navigating today’s complex international landscape, Dunlop’s insights offer a fresh lens on diplomacy, culture, and the promise of a truly multipolar world.
Reference(s):
Sinologist on China: 'Neither inferior nor superior' at world stage
cgtn.com
