Abstract

This paper puts forward a theoretical framework of international agenda － setting based on the existing agenda － setting literatures in mass media communication, politics and international politics. It argues that international agenda － setting is a process of issue selection and definition, conflict expansion and interest mobilization, and a search of appropriate agenda access points by the relevant actors till it enters the international agenda. During this process, the traditional state actors as well as non －state actors, such as media, epistemic communities, advocacy groups and individuals, are all important participants of international agenda － setting. If the international issue entrepreneurs succeed in building up a wide issue coalition network composed of state and non － state participants, the chance the issue enters international agenda will be greatly enhanced. Finally, this paper concludes that international agenda － setting is the"second face of power"in international power play, where some issues enter into international agenda and others not.

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