Henry Kissinger speaks during an interview at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing in 2013. [Photo/VCG]

International relations is perhaps the most complex discipline in the sphere of social sciences. It requires a good understanding of different actors' foreign policies, of the factors influencing these foreign policies and of the general context where they are exerted. Knowledge is the key to reaching such an understanding. But knowledge requires a systematic and careful selection of sources that provide a holistic and multidisciplinary account of the situation. 

In modern times, the work of Henry Kissinger is an indispensable point of reference. His mastery in international relations, his love of history and his contributions to watershed developments in world politics created an incomparable amalgam of theory, practice and success. A valuable record of books, articles, public interventions and above all achievements will remind people – after his death – of Kissinger's contribution to the field and his role in history.

There is a plethora of examples. The understanding of China is certainly the point where every discussion should start. No other figure in the West approached China and its culture so closely as Henry Kissinger. In the Cold War years, he embarked on a particularly difficult mission and demonstrated that nothing was necessarily "impossible" in international relations. In particular, he secretly visited Beijing in 1971 and – together with the Chinese leadership – worked on the establishment of Sino-American diplomatic relations. The transcript of bilateral conversations remains a foundational document that explains the basic aspects of bilateral relations. The visit of President Richard Nixon to China in 1972 sealed the new chapter that would witness the blossoming of Sino-American relations that had not existed before.

More than 50 years have passed since Kissinger first visited Beijing. In the interim, and especially during the recent years of tensions between China and the United States, he was constantly advocating the necessity for stability in bilateral ties. Only a few months before his death and in spite of being 100 years old and outside politics he flew to Beijing to help in the management of the bilateral relationship. It was to be his last journey to the Chinese capital. Even so, it yielded results. The November 2023 summit in San Francisco echoed Kissinger's general position that China and the U.S. ought to talk to each other in the hope of preserving peace. 

In the final years of his life, Kissinger did not stop learning. Notwithstanding his wisdom and experience, he realized that the advent of technology could be a game changer for the future direction of the world, and for Sino-American relations. Hence, he worked with American entrepreneurs and made a special linkage between politics and technology by finding an intersection point. Certainly, no other figure would have the passion and courage to do so at this age. His observations about the impact of artificial intelligence in modern warfare are central to ongoing international debates, including at the U.N. level. 

From another prism, Kissinger will be remembered for his contributions to peace in the Middle East. While war is currently ongoing in the region and perspectives about a long-term settlement are rather grim, a look into the history of the 1970s reveals how the American politician catalytically influenced Israeli-Egyptian negotiations. The Sinai Agreement in 1975, which he negotiated, called for an end to fighting between the two countries and outlined a buffer zone with U.N. peacekeeping forces. This paved the way for the unprecedented visit of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Israel in 1977 and the conclusion of the Camp David Accords the following year. 

Volumes can be written about the personality of Henry Kissinger and his work on various issues and in different regions. While scholars may disagree about his legacy, however, they can surely agree that international relations has lost its soul.

George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

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