Theoretical paradigm reconstruction in global ocean governance amid technological change: a genealogical study

Abstract Using a genealogical approach, this study examines the core dilemmas and paradigm reconstruction in global ocean governance theory amid technological change. It argues that the Western theoretical spectrum, represented by realism, liberalism, and constructivism, exhibits a structural crisis of explanation when confronting systemic risks catalyzed by disruptive technologies, due to its inherent epistemological and normative limitations. This theoretical vacuum creates a historical opening for the potential emergence of complementary and competing frameworks. Against this backdrop, the study elaborates on the Chinese proposal of a Maritime Community with a Shared Future and its core principles. It positions this concept as a systematic paradigmatic innovation that seeks to transcend current Western dilemmas by integrating their insights into a new philosophical foundation. By examining three practical pathways—global legislation, regional cooperation, and technology governance—the applicability and effectiveness of the framework are validated, highlighting the role of Chinese mid-range theories as important cognitive tools for navigating governance complexity. It concludes that the genealogical value of a Maritime Community with a Shared Future lies in providing a new benchmark for evaluating state conduct and steering global ocean institutions toward a more just and sustainable future.