“The Norm of Unification” in the Context of Separatism in Ancient China：Cases from the History of the Song and Ming Dynasties

    Abstract：This research attempts to borrow from a literature in international relations on the structure of norms to consider the strategic behavior of states from a sociological and system level perspective.The structure of norms between actors vary over different time periods, and for this reason, research on strategic culture cannot replace research on “the norm of unification”.The norm of unification exhibits both the characteristics of a regulatory norm and a constructivist norm, and in the context of state separatism results in two conflicting polities constructing an “orthodox identity” which ultimately leads to offensive behavior targeted at ensuring the unity of the state. On the basis of this perspective, this article selects cases from the Song and Ming dynasties to demonstrate the existence of two effects of the norm of unification.This article has definite implications for explaining the strategic logic of contemporary Chinese strategy and is useful for clarifying misunderstanding of contemporary Chinese strategy held by Western academics or politicians.It also helps demonstrate the possibility and the ultimate inevitability that China establish peaceful relations with neighboring states.