By Wei Nanzhi, Deputy Director and Researcher at the Bureau of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Human civilization emerges from the depths of history. History has no end, and civilization has no end. Diverse civilizations constitute the true nature of the world, and there are no standardized answers to the paths of development or institutional models of different countries.
At the end of the Cold War, Francis Fukuyama proposed the “end of history” theory, claiming that all countries would eventually evolve into Western‑style liberal democracies. This Western‑centric theory was once popular, but decades later it has been overturned by reality: governance difficulties in many Western countries, repeated failures of nations that copied the Western model, and the rise of countries like China pursuing development paths based on their own national conditions. All of this quickly faded the “end of history,” a product idolized at a specific historical moment. Even Fukuyama himself admitted he might have been wrong.
His self‑correction reflects a broader Western academic and societal rethinking, shifting attention toward the Chinese model. “The failure of Western democracy” has long been a debated topic in the West. Naturally, another question arises: what kind of global power will China become?
Theories such as the “China threat” and “China shock” reveal both anxiety over the collapse of Western‑centric superiority and attempts to push China into replacing the U.S. as global hegemon. These views essentially continue the history of Western expansion and modern U.S. hegemony. If China’s rise were based on threatening or impacting others, and if national rejuvenation pursued a “China‑centered vision,” it would only prove China had been fully “Westernized.”
China is not a threat but a builder of peace. It has consistently engaged with other nations, including Western countries, through cooperation rather than confrontation, coexistence rather than opposition. Since ancient times, Chinese civilization has valued “harmony as the most precious,” with concepts like “contributing to the world” and “harmony among nations” deeply embedded in its cultural DNA. The Forbidden City, with over 600 years of history, displays the word “harmony” on plaques of its three main halls. More than 2,000 years ago, the Book of Rites described the ideal vision: “When the Great Way prevails, the world becomes one community.” This idea of “great harmony under heaven” aligns with today’s concept of “building a community with a shared future for mankind.”
China is not a shock but a source of shared opportunities. As a stabilizer and driver of global economic growth, it has contributed over 30% to world growth for many consecutive years. The Belt and Road Initiative, based on consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, has effectively addressed development challenges and benefited people worldwide. More than 130,000 China‑Europe freight trains have delivered goods worth over $520 billion; the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has approved over 300 projects, bringing electricity to children in underdeveloped countries. The “Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative” now includes over 80 nations. Since May 1 this year, China has implemented zero tariffs with 53 African countries maintaining diplomatic ties. Looking ahead, China announced 2,000 additional “small but beautiful” livelihood projects in developing countries within five years.
China adheres to sovereignty and insists on sharing rather than imposing its development model. Its four major global initiatives have received broad support worldwide. In spring and summer 2026, leaders from many countries visited China intensively, with foreign media noting that “Beijing rolls out the red carpet every day.” This global trend of “looking East” is clear evidence of “voting with their feet”: virtue is never alone, it always has neighbors. China is neither a shock nor a threat, but a source of strength promoting global development through pragmatic action, spreading warmth and confidence.
Civilizations exist in many forms, like the symbiosis of all things in nature. The Chinese model, the Western model, and others are all part of the garden of global political civilization. Their vitality lies in exchange and mutual learning, not exclusion, for no single flower defines the entire garden. Only by encouraging diverse civilizations to think independently and write world history through varied paradigms can humanity together build a vibrant common garden full of life.
Source: People's Daily