The New World Order of Digital Tianxia and its Global Impacts

Principle Investigator：Joyce C.H. Liu

This project aims to examine the discourse strategies and material global deployments associated with the emergence of the "New World Order" in the 21st century and the rapidly developing Digital Silk Road. It will analyze the implications of this discourse for the new world order and its impact on global and geopolitical dynamics. The central thesis of this research posits that the concept of "Tianxia" (天下) is a perspective and discourse strategy constructed by historical context. "Tianxia" represents a claim to sovereignty, and its interpretation evolves alongside historical periods and the entities asserting sovereignty. The project comprises the following components: 1) An exploration of the historical evolution of the concept of "Tianxia" and the characteristics of the "New Tianxia" discourse in the 21st century; 2) An analysis of how the transformation of the Digital Silk Road and surveillance systems in the 21st century connects to historical mechanisms of surveillance and authoritarian regimes, as well as how digital technology enhances social control; 3) An investigation into the multifaceted impacts of China's Digital Silk Road under geopolitical tensions and the global Cold War context; 4) An examination of the limitations of the "Tianxia" perspective, revealing its darker aspects, and how the remnants of "Tianxia" could potentially serve as opportunities for epistemological decolonization.