National Scientific Conference: “Theoretical and practical basis of non-material factors in international relations”

On the morning of November 10, 2025, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City (USSH, VNUHCM) hosted a scientific conference on the topic “Theoretical and practical basis of non-material factors in International Relations”. The event was held within the framework of the national-level research project “The role of non-material factors in international relations and policy implications for enhancing Vietnam's international status” (Code: KX.06.10/21-30), led by Dr. Le Lena from the Faculty of International Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi (USSH, VNU-Hanoi). The conference was co-organized by the USSH, VNU-Hanoi - the project's leading institution - in coordination with the International Relations major, Faculty of History and International Relations, USSH, VNUHCM.

The conference attracted a large number of experts, scholars, lecturers, and students in the fields of international relations, politics, economics, and culture. This is an academic forum aimed at clarifying the concepts and nature of non-material factors, analyzing various theoretical approaches, and evaluating their role in foreign policy and national status. On that basis, the conference aims to propose practical policy implications for Vietnam in the context of increasingly deep international integration.

Dr. Nguyen Tang Nghi, Head of the Faculty of History and International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNUHCM, delivering the opening speech - Photo: Organizing Committee

In his opening remarks, Dr. Nguyen Tang Nghi (USSH, VNUHCM) emphasized: “Clarifying the theoretical basis, operational mechanisms, and practical evidence of non-material factors in international relations not only contributes to completing the specialized knowledge system but also holds strategic significance for Vietnam - a nation rising strongly in the process of deep integration. In that context, capabilities such as national image, cultural appeal, and the ability to lead regional standards will become invaluable strategic resources, contributing to enhancing Vietnam's status and influence in the international arena.”

Dr. Nguyen Tang Nghi, Head of the Faculty of History and International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNUHCM, delivering the opening speech - Photo: Organizing Committee

In his keynote speech, Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam - USSH, VNU-Hanoi, emphasized the importance of non-material factors in shaping and directing human behavior, thereby profoundly impacting social life and international relations. He argued that values such as “propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor” (le, nghia, liem, si), once considered the moral foundation of a nation, still hold their original meaning in the modern world - where “character creates destiny” is true not only for individuals but also for nations. He also emphasized that nurturing and promoting non-material factors - especially through education and social awareness - is a prerequisite for enhancing national status. As the role of human beings is emphasized, non-material factors become increasingly central in research and policy planning.

Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam delivering the keynote address at the conference - Photo: Organizing Committee

Session 1: Theoretical Foundation

Chairs: Dr. Nguyen Tang Nghi - Dr. Le Lena

Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam opened the session with a presentation on non-material factors in International Relations - “Concept, nature, and various aspects of non-material factors in International Relations”, focusing on the question: Is the history of international relations an inevitable process, or is it the result of human choices and actions?

Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam presenting the paper “Concept, nature, and various aspects of non-material factors in International Relations” - Photo: Organizing Committee

He approached the issue from a historical perspective, arguing that in the early stages of international relations, due to limited material conditions, nations mainly acted according to material interests, dominated by military and economic power. The prevailing materialistic view meant that the human, moral, and spiritual factors were less focused on. However, since 1945, when material life improved, non-material factors gradually became a component of national power, and even a goal of foreign policy. Value systems, identity, humanitarian spirit, and legitimacy are considered the foundation of soft power, shaping the social structure and influencing national behavior in the international system.

Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam emphasized that in modern times, non-material factors - such as trust, values, communication, and democracy - are increasingly strongly impacting international politics, but they cannot completely replace material factors. A sustainable policy must harmonize hard and soft power, between people and historical circumstances. The paper concludes: the history of international relations is not inevitable but always depends on the human ability to direct and create turning points through correct policies.

Following that, Dr. Tran Nguyen Khang (Faculty of History and International Relations, USSH, VNUHCM), with the paper “Non-material factors in international relations: Theoretical basis, international practice, and policy implications for Vietnam” focused on systematizing core concepts such as identity, values and norms, national image and prestige, public opinion, culture, religion, and history, thereby identifying these as components constituting soft power in foreign policy.

Dr. Tran Nguyen Khang presenting the paper “Non-material factors in international relations: Theoretical basis, international practice, and policy implications for Vietnam” - Photo: Organizing Committee

He emphasized five characteristics of non-material factors: intangible, difficult to measure, indirectly but profoundly influential, inter-subjective, and variable according to context and discourse. From the liberal, constructivist, and critical perspectives, Dr. Khang analyzed how democratic, liberal, and rule-of-law values are used by the United States as normative tools; how South Korea promotes cultural power through Hallyu; and China's efforts to shape soft power through Confucius Institutes.

From these cases, he concluded that soft power is only sustainable when linked to material capacity - forming “smart power”. For Vietnam, this requires cross-sectoral investment, consolidating identity, and placing communication and education at the center of foreign strategy.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hai Dang (Center for Korean Studies, USSH, VNUHCM), with the final paper of the session - “Identity factors in International Relations”, delved into how nations perceive themselves and how that perception shapes foreign behavior. He emphasized that identity is both a unifying foundation and a source of conflict: it creates trust, shared values, and the basis for cooperation, but at the same time, when differences arise, it can also create opposition and tension.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hai Dang presenting the paper “Identity factors in International Relations” - Photo: Organizing Committee

From the constructivist perspective, he argued that identity is not fixed but can be adjusted and reconstructed to maintain stability in international relations. The case of France-Germany shows the transformation of identity from confrontation to cooperation within the framework of NATO and the European Union, where countries share Western political identity and jointly oppose the Soviet bloc. Conversely, the Russia-Ukraine conflict or US-China competition represents a form of identity conflict, as each side asserts its own model of values and order.

Dr. Le Lena commenting on the papers, concluding session 1 - Photo: Organizing Committee

Session 2: Practice and Application

Chairs: Dr. Nguyen Tang Nghi - Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam

Moving from theory to practice, the second session opened with a Vietnam-US case study. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Nam Tien (USSH, VNUHCM) presented a highly regarded paper with theoretical depth on the topic “Strategic trust in international relations: A case study of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the United States”. In his presentation, he emphasized that strategic trust is one of the most important non-material factors, built through the process of creating shared values, reconciling perceptions, and establishing an institutional framework, not just based on material interests.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Nam Tien presenting the paper “Strategic trust in international relations: A case study of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the United States” - Photo: Organizing Committee

From the constructivist perspective, he pointed out that trust is not naturally formed but built through the process of creating shared values and overlapping interests. The Vietnam-US case proves this: the 1995-2013 period was a process of reconciliation and addressing the aftermath of the war, while the 2013 milestone, when the two countries established a comprehensive partnership, marked a transition from conventional trust to strategic trust. The 2023 event, with the upgrade to a comprehensive strategic partnership, demonstrates the effort to go beyond the traditional institutional framework towards long-term and stable trust.

Using the institutional liberal approach, he further analyzed the impact of “institutional inertia” - when cooperation mechanisms and political commitments help maintain trust despite leadership changes. The 2015 visit to the United States by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was considered a milestone confirming mutual recognition of the roles and legitimacy in bilateral relations.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Nam Tien concluded that in international relations, trust is a “luxury asset”, but the Vietnam-US case shows that it can be created and maintained when material and non-material factors are combined harmoniously in a long-term strategic vision.

Expanding the scope of analysis, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Trung (Fulbright University) with the paper “Ideas, identity, and discourse: Development and impact in the field of International Relations” highlighted the role of ideas, identity, and discourse in shaping foreign policy and the structure of international relations. He pointed out that traditional materialistic theories - realism and liberalism - faced limitations in explaining fluctuations like the Berlin Wall or the Cold War, thus paving the way for ideational theories, including constructivism and post-structuralism, where identities and norms are formed through inter-subjective interactions and discourse.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Trung presenting the paper “Ideas, identity, and discourse: Development and impact in the field of International Relations” - Photo: Organizing Committee

Dr. Trung analyzed norm life cycles (emergence, cascade, internalization) and the role of domestic cultural structure in shaping national identity, while emphasizing that power and knowledge are always constructed through discourse, not just reflecting reality but actively creating it. He gave an ASEAN case study, where despite diversity, countries still maintain cohesion through norm diffusion and shared identity, demonstrating how the discourse of power reinforces leadership and regional cooperation.

The conclusion of the paper emphasizes that, in the post-material and information explosion era, the way a nation tells stories about itself and the world - through ideas, identity, and discourse - can be as important as material power, while providing a theoretical basis for developing a truly global international relations theory, combining Western epistemology and other practical experiences.

Concluding the series of presentations, Dr. Le Lena presented the paper “Normative power of ASEAN and the EU in Southeast Asia: Mechanisms and implementation practice”, providing a profound comparative perspective on how two regional organizations apply normative power to influence the behavior of other actors. She analyzed the implementation process of this power including: building and selecting norms, dissemination, internationalization, through mechanisms such as diplomacy, initiatives, normative models, and programs promoting values.

Dr. Le Lena presenting the paper “Normative power of ASEAN and the EU in Southeast Asia: Mechanisms and implementation practice” - Photo: Organizing Committee

Dr. Le Lena emphasized that, while ASEAN uses the “ASEAN Way” to maintain cohesion and stability in the region, the EU implements universal values such as democracy and human rights into common policy, combining soft power and material power. The paper also points out the plurality of norms in modern international relations, while questioning the possibility of countries like China building a regional norm with “Eastern standards” in the context of globalization and cultural diversity.

Open discussion

Immediately after the presentations, the discussion session took place vibrantly with many academic views put forward around the role of non-material factors in international relations. Some opinions emphasized the interaction between system structure and human behavior, arguing that nations do not simply react to the international environment but actively create meaning and interests through identity and norms.

PhD candidate Dr. Le Ngoc Thao Nguyen asking a discussion question at the conference - Photo: Organizing Committee

The speakers focused on discussing the central question: can non-material power - such as identity, discourse, culture, and trust - shape national action, or is material capacity the deciding factor in international politics? Some views argue that perception and culture are endogenous resources, contributing to regulating foreign policy, while also shaping “national narratives” consistent with the interests and stances of the nation in each historical period.

Prof. Dr. Tran Nam Tien answering a discussion question at the conference - Photo: Organizing Committee

In addition, the discussion also mentioned the role of trust and credibility in international relations, as well as institutional mechanisms for soft power and normative power through state institutions. Many opinions agreed that normative power cannot completely replace material power, but needs to be combined to create overall strategic effectiveness in a competitive international environment.

Students asking discussion questions at the conference - Photo: Organizing Committee

Dr. Nguyen Tuan Khanh participating in the discussion at the conference - Photo: Organizing Committee

Overall, the discussion session showed the multidimensionality in international relations theory and practice, while affirming the importance of balancing capacity, identity, norms, and discourse in the process of formulating and implementing foreign policy.

Closing speech

In his closing remarks, the Organizing Committee emphasized that the conference was successful in gathering many multidimensional perspectives, combining theory and practice. The event highlighted the importance of non-material factors, provided theoretical basis and analytical frameworks from various theories, and opened up many new research directions in international relations, emphasizing the value of “living in life, one needs a heart”.

Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam commenting on the papers of session 2, delivering the closing speech - Photo: Organizing Committee

In an increasingly complex international context, military and economic power are not enough to explain or predict national behavior. Non-material factors such as trust, identity, values, and discourse are increasingly becoming the decisive factors. For Vietnam, understanding and applying these factors is not only an academic requirement but also an essential strategy for enhancing national status and building effective foreign policy in the process of deep international integration.

Anh Thy