Research on the Islamic System and the Democratization of International Relations

The purpose of this paper is to explore the significance of the Islamic System to the democratization of international relations. In the current multipolar era, the Islamic world represents a potentially significant balancing force alongside China, the United States, Russia, and Europe. Through a comparative study with the Tributary System and the Treaty System, the article confirms the existence of the Islamic System as a model of international relations. In Chinese academic circles, the authors of this paper are among the first scholars to posit the actual existence of the Islamic System. This paper argues that the Islamic System is a model of international relations dominated by Islamic powers (historically, empires, and in the modern context, leading states), with Islam serving as the common ideology within the system. Historically, its external relations were characterized by territorial expansion in the early stage and primarily by trade and missionary activities in the later stage. The Islamic System demonstrated remarkable longevity. Since the late 19th century, efforts to revive the Islamic System have persisted, and its re-establishment holds great significance for the democratization of international relations.