EDITORIAL

The Seed of Revolution in Asia

Over the past 25 years, the global geopolitical landscape has undergone and continues to undergo substantial transformations. The U.S.-centric system has begun its decline not only in economic terms but also in political, ideological, and cultural dimensions. Correspondingly, Asia—led primarily by China—has emerged as the world’s manufacturing powerhouse. At the same time, leading nations of the developing world have been on the rise economically.

The most significant consequence of these changes is the erosion of Atlantic hegemony, which had been established after the Second World War and centered on the Europe-U.S. alliance. It has become evident that this hegemony no longer possesses the authority to dictate global processes. The “rules-based order” devised to enforce Atlantic dominance is now disintegrating. The unipolar world order, dominated by the United States following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, has ceased to exist. Today, the political strategies of the United States, Europe, and developing nations are shaped by the realities of multipolarity.

While the traditional institutions that have long governed the global order are losing their influence, alternative frameworks for international cooperation—where all parties benefit mutually—are gaining strength. The nations of the developing world, uniting through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the expanding BRICS+, are actively reshaping global dynamics. These new forms of cooperation establish a system based on “mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.” This emerging order stands in contrast to and as an alternative to the neoliberal international system.

As the first quarter of the 21st century draws to a close, the world is transforming in historical magnitude—comparable to the upheavals of a century ago. The great revolutions of the early 20th century enabled prominent Asian civilizations to rise from the ashes and shook the world. Today, Asia is once again at the forefront, but this time, it is not alone. Alongside Asia, the nations of Africa, Latin America, and the nations of the developing world are asserting their sovereignty against imperialist domination.

At the dawn of the 20th century, nearly the entire world—except Türkiye, Russia, China, and Iran—was under colonial rule. The successive revolutions in Russia, Türkiye, Iran, and China served as a source of inspiration for national independence movements worldwide in their struggles against imperialism. From the mid-20th century onward, socialist-led popular revolutions also took place. These revolutionary movements shared a common ethos, embracing nationalism, populism, collectivism, publicism, and ethnic cohesion. The nations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America continue to draw strength from their revolutionary legacies, striving to live with dignity and freedom in today’s multipolar world. The momentum of national independence movements is again gaining strength across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, building upon the traditions of local and worldwide revolutionary breakthroughs.

This issue focuses on the legacy of Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the 1911 Chinese Revolution and one of the pioneers of revolutionary thought, whose influence continues today. Even a century after his demise, this great revolutionary leader continues to serve humanity.

FİKRET AKFIRAT
Editor-in-Chief

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BRIQ Vol.6 Issue:2

Contents

Abstract

The year 2025 signifies the centenary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s demise, the leader of the Chinese democratic movement. Sun is a pioneer among the first group of modernist nationalist leaders in the oppressed regions of the 20th century. Sun first sought to dismantle the Qing Dynasty of Manchu descent, which had been partially colonized by Western powers, and to construct a modern societal framework with a nation-state for the Han ethnicity, alongside an industrialized economic system capable of ensuring prosperity for its populace. Nevertheless, the disregard for the mass line of the nationalist organization he directed and the frailty of the social forces capable of executing the revolution compelled him to envision a Republic across the Empire’s boundaries. The insights he gained from the project’s failure and the impact of the Bolshevik Revolution prompted Sun to implement an organizational framework that prioritized connections with the populace, a political doctrine that promoted socialized Chinese nationalism over racial Han nationalism, and a revolutionary strategy that unified all societal classes in pursuit of a democratic revolution. Consequently, Sun bequeathed a substantial legacy as the forerunner of the political disposition of subsequent Chinese leaders, who acknowledged China’s historical context and preserved the connection between nationalism and socialism. On the centenary of his demise, Sun Yat-sen is more than a mere memory for China. His political legacy continues to hold significance.

Abstract

Sun Yat-sen was a distinguished patriot, a pioneering figure in China’s democratic movement, the creator of the Republic of China and the Kuomintang, and the formulator of the “Three People’s Principles.” In the context of China’s early modernization during the Republic of China, the 1911 Revolution dismantled the monarchy and instituted a bourgeois republic, thereby transferring the leadership of early modernization to the modern bourgeoisie and facilitating the transition to modern civilization. It popularized the concept of a democratic republic and established an institutional framework for China’s initial modernization. Sun Yat- sen’s vision for nation-building and his modernization philosophy significantly contributed to China’s early modernization, particularly through the New Three People’s Principles and the policies of collaboration with Russia, the Communist Party, and the labor classes and peasants, which exhibited a socialist inclination. Third, it provided some experience for the Communist Party of China to explore the road of China’s modernization.

Abstract

Chinese progressives and revolutionaries have drawn parallels between the Chinese Revolution and the Turkish Revolution in the early 20th century by assessing the historical and political contexts and the nations' stances against imperialism. The primary reason for this situation is that the Ottoman Empire and the Qing Dynasty, both formidable empires of their time, began to disintegrate concurrently, experienced semi-colonization by Western powers, and underwent revolutionary processes that occurred nearly simultaneously with analogous aims and objectives. The two states, located at the western and eastern extremities of the continent, were designated by the West as the “sick man of Asia.” The revolutionaries in both states sought measures to salvage and rejuvenate the failing state. The Turkish and Chinese revolutions, occurring concurrently, aimed to exchange insights and enhance their movements. Members of the Communist Party of China and Kuominang authored multiple papers highlighting the historical parallels between Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Sun Yat-sen. This study aims to examine the perceptions of revolutionaries in China on Sun Yat-sen at the onset of the 20th century, as well as the historical connection between him and the Turkish Revolution and Atatürk.

Abstract

The following is a speech delivered by Mao Zedong, the great revolutionary and founding leader of the People's Republic of China, at the commemoration of the 13th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's death and the soldiers who lost their lives in the war against Japan, held in Yan'an on March 12, 1938. This speech was published in the New China Daily (新中華報) on March 15, 1938. Translated from the Chinese original by BRIQ.

Abstract

Sun Yat-sen undertook his last trip to Japan in November 1924, four months before his demise. On November 22, Sun Yat-sen departed from Shanghai, arrived in Nagasaki on November 23, visited Kobe on November 24, and convened the notable “Pan-Asianism” conference on November 28 following several meetings. During his visit to Japan, Sun Yat Sen conducted interviews with Japanese journalists, articulating the concepts he presented at the “Pan- Asianism” conference in an effort to communicate his message to the Japanese people. Below is the Turkish translation of the interview conducted by Murata Shiro, the Shanghai correspondent for the Osaka Mainichi Shimbun, published on November 23, 1924. The original Japanese text is taken from the book of Documents of Sun Yat-sen’s ‘Pan-Asianism’ Speech (1989).

Abstract

With the rise of emerging middle powers during the past few years, such as Türkiye, Indonesia, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, whose significant influences have been expanding in the global landscape, while traditional middle powers like Canada and Australia have been notably silent on issues impacting global security and development. Therefore, not only has the division occurred within middle powers, but their unique diplomatic patterns and logics of external behaviors are also worthy of attention. This article argues that emerging middle powers are in a semi-peripheral position within the international economic structure, representing the common interests of developing countries and acting as leaders of the “Global South” and promoters of a more multipolar global order. During the transformation of international order, the rise of emerging middle powers and their balancing diplomacy pattern will further promote multipolarization.

Abstract

Examining Sino-French relations within the framework of multipolar international politics in the 2000s reveals new political dynamics with historical roots and future implications. France’s historical presence in the “Indochina” region during the colonial era, as a sovereign state and a pivotal actor until the Vietnam War, establishes the historical context. Despite strained relations during Mao Zedong’s era and the Chinese Revolution, Charles de Gaulle’s 1964 visit revitalized diplomatic ties between the two nations. This study aims to elucidate the evolution of Sino-French relations since the pivotal 1911 Chinese Revolution, focusing on the trajectory leading to the emergence of the People’s Republic of China in both economic and political dimensions. In addition to examining the traditional and Western perceptions of the impacts of globalization, this article addresses the novel opportunities and challenges posed by the superpower status of the People’s Republic of China within the context of French foreign policy. It does so by incorporating an alter-globalization perspective, delving into the evolving dynamics of the global political landscape. Alter-globalization, which emphasizes alternative approaches prioritizing social and environmental justice, becomes particularly relevant. Within this framework, Sino-French relations can be analyzed not only in terms of conventional power dynamics but also through the lens of evolving global norms and values. The cultivation of strong ties between China and France within the EU framework serves as a means for the former to exert influence. This study aims to answer these questions and examine contemporary Sino-French relations, considering historical impacts and utilizing an alter-globalization perspective.

Abstract

This report details the activities of the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Cooperation with Foreign Countries of the Uzbekistan Republic in recent years. Uzbekistan possesses one of the most substantial diasporas among the Central Asiannations.ThereportdetailstheactivitiesofpertinentorganizationsinUzbekistan in relation to friendship and cooperation associations in foreign nations, including engagement with their countrymen overseas. The paper highlights Uzbekistan's initiatives as a significant example of modern efforts to promote friendship and cooperation among nations, as well as integration and harmony of civilizations.

Abstract

**Translated by Latif Bolat (2025).

Abstract

**Retrieved January 30, 2025, from https://dippingintolight.com/yiduo-wen-1899/.