Bridging the gap between legal understanding and legal trust

International students’ identification with Chinese legal culture

Authors

  • Xingnuo Wu Zhejiang Normal University, China
  • Yucheng Feng Zhejiang Normal University, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/4a8eew73

Keywords:

international students, cross-cultural identity, Cases of International Students Coming to China

Abstract

This mixed method study investigates international students’ identification with Chinese legal culture using a “Three-Dimensional Integrated Model of Cross-Legal Cultural Adaptation” encompassing cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions. The findings reveal a significant “structural misalignment” in legal identity. While students demonstrate high levels of cognitive value appreciation, they lag in terms of institutional (affective) and practical (behavioral) trust. Regression analysis indicates that negative institutional interactions and inaccessible legal channels drive this misalignment. This paper proposes targeted “empowerment pathways” to bridge the gap between theoretical cognition and practical application, offering insights to optimize international student legal education and to inform global governance.

Author Biographies

  • Xingnuo Wu, Zhejiang Normal University, China

    XINGNUO WU is a student in the Experimental Class of African Regional and Country Studies and the College of Law at Zhejiang Normal University, China. 

  • Yucheng Feng, Zhejiang Normal University, China

    YUCHENG FENG is a student in the Experimental Class of African Regional and Country Studies and the College of Foreign Languages at Zhejiang Normal University, China. 

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Published

2026-08-02

How to Cite

Wu, X., & Feng, Y. (2026). Bridging the gap between legal understanding and legal trust: International students’ identification with Chinese legal culture. Journal of International Students, 16(17), 73-96. https://doi.org/10.32674/4a8eew73