Translating the ‘International’: Rethinking the Politics of Equivalence through Translingual Practice – A Case from the Sinosphere

Abstract

This article reconsiders the linguistic equivalence in the conceptual history of International Relations (IR) by examining translation as a historical and political practice. Building on Reinhart Koselleck’s method, it calls for a translingual conceptual history that reveals how IR’s concepts acquire layered meanings across linguistic and cultural boundaries. Through a case study of the term ‘international’ in the Sinosphere, the article traces three distinct translations from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century: wanguo , guoji and Yingtenaixiongnaier . Each reflected different historical contexts, ideologies and political options, from Confucian legal universalism and positivist diplomacy to socialist internationalism. Rather than spontaneous equivalence, these translations illustrate how concepts are mediated through asymmetric and politicised localisation. In sum, this article sophisticates IR’s disciplinary understanding by situating translation at the core. It aims to challenge the current Anglophone hegemony and Eurocentrism by adopting global resources, thereby advancing a more plural and decolonised understanding of international thought.