The global political system resulting from the end of the Cold War, which consecrated the implosion of the Soviet Union at the turn of the 1990s, remains marked with the American superpower. China, which has naturally always been a great nation in the international system, is on a steady and tremendous growth, a development process which is leading to a dramatic change in the global power distribution and the positioning of China as a potential contender of the U.S. the world affairs.
While China needs to pursue its economic, security and political goals, it must also deal with the security dilemma induced by its emergence as a great power. This study discusses how China pursues its rise with the constraint of the American dominance of the international system. Essentially a theoretical undertaking, this thesis proposes an analysis of China’s emergence from the assumptions of offensive realism developed by John J. Mearsheimer.
It results from this analysis that China appears to follow a strategy that combines three complementary dimensions: on the internal level, economic and military reforms; and externally, an assertive and effective diplomacy in line with its strategic goals. Such an approach is innovative in the sense that it aims to raise the national and international profile of China through mainly economic power rather than military.
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1. THE NOTION OF POWER
- Power: A Multifaceted Concept
- Power Criteria
- Power in the Emerging of International Relations as a Discipline
- Power as States' Capacity
- Power and its Modes of Action
- Chapter 2. THE REALIST THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
- Realism as a Paradigm
- Offensive Realism as a Theory of International Politics
- Chapter 3. INTERNAL BALANCING: THE ECONOMIC DIMENSION
- Offensive Realism and the Economic Variable in the Power Equation
- Economic Development: a Central Pillar of China's Strategy
- The 'Hard Economic Power' Tool
- Chapter 4. INTERNAL BALANCING: THE MILITARY DIMENSION
- Offensive Realism and the Quest for Military Power
- Military Doctrine
- Military Budget
- A Prospective Military Superpower
- Chapter 5. EXTERNAL BALANCING: THE POLITICAL DIMENSION
- China's Policy through the Lens of Offensive Realism
- Multilateralism
- Bilateralism
- Influence in Africa
- Influence in Asia
Objectives and Key Themes
This work analyzes China's rise and its implications for the global balance of power, utilizing the theoretical framework of offensive realism. The study aims to understand China's power projection strategies across economic, military, and political dimensions.
- China's economic growth and its role in its power projection
- China's military modernization and its implications for regional and global security
- China's foreign policy strategies, including multilateralism and bilateral relations
- The application of offensive realism to understanding China's actions
- China's influence in Africa and Asia
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1. THE NOTION OF POWER: This chapter explores the multifaceted concept of power in international relations. It examines various definitions and criteria for assessing power, tracing its evolution within the discipline. The chapter differentiates between power as a capacity to impose or destroy, power as a capacity for action and leeway, and power as the capacity to structure one's international environment. It concludes by analyzing different modes of power's application in the international system, laying the groundwork for understanding how China utilizes power in the subsequent chapters.
Chapter 2. THE REALIST THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: This chapter establishes the theoretical foundation for the analysis by introducing realism as a paradigm and offensive realism as a specific theory of international politics. It explains the core tenets of offensive realism, focusing on the inherent insecurity of the international system and states' constant pursuit of power. The concepts of buck-passing and balancing strategies, and the distinction between soft and hard balancing, are explored to provide a framework for understanding China's approach to the balance of power.
Chapter 3. INTERNAL BALANCING: THE ECONOMIC DIMENSION: This chapter examines the economic dimension of China's internal balancing strategy through the lens of offensive realism. It highlights China's impressive economic development as a cornerstone of its power projection. The chapter explores China's unique approach to peaceful development, emphasizing how its economic strength serves as both an internal and external security imperative, and a preferred tool for balancing against other great powers. It analyzes China's use of "hard economic power," including its role as a world trade driver and global investor, and the geopolitical implications of its economic might.
Chapter 4. INTERNAL BALANCING: THE MILITARY DIMENSION: This chapter delves into China's military buildup as a crucial aspect of its internal balancing strategy. It examines China's military doctrine, outlining its evolution from initial doctrines to the more recent active defense strategy. The chapter analyzes China's military budget and explores its potential trajectory to become a military superpower, discussing the implications for the global balance of power. The analysis utilizes offensive realism to contextualize China's military expansion within the broader context of great power competition.
Chapter 5. EXTERNAL BALANCING: THE POLITICAL DIMENSION: This chapter analyzes China's external balancing strategies in the political realm, again framed within the offensive realism perspective. It examines China's engagement in multilateral forums and its pursuit of bilateral relationships with key players such as Russia, the United States, and Europe, and its relations with the third world. The chapter focuses on China's growing influence in Africa and Asia, discussing the tools it employs, such as aid and the promotion of an alternative development model. The discussion addresses perceptions of China's actions in the West and explores its “win-win” approach to international relations.
Keywords
China, balance of power, offensive realism, economic development, military modernization, foreign policy, multilateralism, bilateralism, great power competition, influence, Africa, Asia, peaceful development, hard economic power.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of China's Rise Through the Lens of Offensive Realism
What is the main topic of this text?
This text analyzes China's rise and its implications for the global balance of power, using the theoretical framework of offensive realism. It examines China's power projection strategies across economic, military, and political dimensions.
What theoretical framework is used in this analysis?
The analysis primarily utilizes the theoretical framework of offensive realism, which emphasizes the inherent insecurity of the international system and states' constant pursuit of power.
What are the key themes explored in this text?
Key themes include China's economic growth and its role in power projection, China's military modernization and its implications for global security, China's foreign policy strategies (multilateralism and bilateralism), the application of offensive realism to understand China's actions, and China's influence in Africa and Asia.
How does the text structure its analysis of China's power?
The analysis is structured around three dimensions of power: economic, military, and political. Each dimension is examined separately, then integrated within the offensive realism framework.
What are the key aspects of China's economic power discussed?
The text highlights China's impressive economic development as a cornerstone of its power projection, analyzing its "hard economic power" including its role in world trade and global investment.
What is the focus on China's military power?
The text examines China's military modernization, its evolving military doctrine (including active defense strategy), its military budget, and its potential to become a military superpower.
How does the text analyze China's political strategies?
The analysis covers China's engagement in multilateral forums, its bilateral relations with key players (Russia, US, Europe), its influence in Africa and Asia, and its "win-win" approach to international relations.
What is the role of "offensive realism" in this analysis?
Offensive realism provides the theoretical lens through which China's actions and strategies are interpreted and understood. It helps to explain China's pursuit of power and its balancing strategies.
What are the key chapters and their respective focuses?
The text includes chapters on the notion of power, the realist theoretical framework (with a focus on offensive realism), internal balancing (economic and military dimensions), and external balancing (political dimension), each exploring a specific aspect of China's rise to power.
What are some key terms used throughout the text?
Key terms include: China, balance of power, offensive realism, economic development, military modernization, foreign policy, multilateralism, bilateralism, great power competition, influence, Africa, Asia, peaceful development, and hard economic power.
- Quote paper
- Abel Muyisa (Author), 2018, China's emergence and the balance of power, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/429919
