Coexistence of the US and China: A Bipolar Power Dynamics

573 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The relationship between China and the USA

In today's world, the international system is unipolar with the United States reigning supreme. However, in the coming years, it is predicted that the system will switch to a bipolar system with the United States and China having comparatively similar power. The United States and China, two powerful and influential countries on the international level who differ greatly from one another. China, a country which has customs and traditions deeply embedded into every corner of its systems and America, which is a new country with customs and traditions ranging greatly from family to family. The question arises, can these two powerhouses coexist in a bipolar system where both countries are relatively equal superpowers? Yes the United States and China can coexist peacefully in a bipolar system due to the three points of the Kantian Tripod: reciprocity, trade, and democracy. …show more content…

The first aspect is reciprocity, which describes how one country will not violate another country in fear of the consequences that the action would bring. It is based on the simple statement: you comply, I comply. (Hillebrecht 2017) International regime also play a huge role in reciprocity. According to Professor Hilbrecht, “Krasner (1983): International regimes are a “set of rules, norms and procedures around which the expectations of actors converge in a certain issue area.” There is the fear that what you do today could affect you negatively tomorrow. Other institutions such as the United Nations (UN) also have a set of rules that each country that is a member is required to follow to avoid conflicts with all the other

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of The Us-China Trade

    1570 Words  | 4 Pages

    The U.S. trade deficit has risen more or less steadily since 1992. In the second quarter of 2004, the trade deficit relative to GDP surpassed the 5 percent mark for the first time. Many economists already considered trade deficits above 4 percent of GDP dangerously high. The fear is that continued growth in this external imbalance of the U.S. economy will ultimately spook overseas investors. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2004/09/b193700.html

    Read More

  • Lords of War Simulation

    1409 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Institutions are essential; they facilitate cooperation by building on common interests, hence maximizing the gains for all parties. Institutions provide a guaranteed framework of interactions; they suggest that there will be an expectation of future encounters. They facilitate cooperation by building on common interest, thus maximizing the gain for all parties.” (Mingst, 2011) This theory supports the idea that if one cooperates with the other they both will gain, but once the established trust is lost between the cooperating countries, one should do whatever is in their own economic i...

    Read More

  • Free Trade Essay

    829 Words  | 2 Pages

    These types of treaties seek not only to promote growth in the economy between countries, there are different levels of integration although stimulate trade is the main, it is also important to make an exchange in factors of production, seeks to take advantage of what is known As comparative advantages between each participating region or country which would result in a more efficient development in its different markets and an improvement in the economic

    Read More

  • The cold war

    2042 Words  | 5 Pages

    With the shock of two destructive world wars and then the creation of the United Nations, whose aim is to preserve peace, it is unconceivable for these two nations to fight directly in order to promote their own ideology. But the US and the USSR end up to be in competition in numerous ways, particularly in technological and industrial fields. In the same time they start to spread their influence over their former allies. This phenomenon have led to the creation of a bipolar world, divided in two powerful blocs surrounded by buffer zones, and to the beginning of what we call the Cold War because of the absence of direct conflicts between the two nations.

    Read More

  • Kenneth Waltz's Anarchic Orders And Balances Of Power

    1231 Words  | 3 Pages

    This theory can only work within an anarchic system. In an external balance, states are usually faced with a prisoner’s dilemma. In order for the theory to work, states have to play the game by the rules, that is, ‘accepting the system of the balance of power as the common endeavor for their frameworks’. He gives an example of the period after WWII and how international stability was achieved as a result of the theory. Again, playing by the rules may not necessarily work because; conforming may lead to lack of gain of power and also, insecurity as a result. Although Walt is keen on his argument, he argues that states in the international system are like firms in a domestic economy and have the same fundamental interest: to survive. His theory helps only to explain why states behave in similar ways despite their having different structural systems and ideologies, and his idea is not based on the moral aspect, which is structure and how it is constantly changing. Walt expands Waltz’s argument in his article, ‘The Origin of Alliances” by expanding on balance of power and bandwagoning in a quest to achieve international

    Read More

  • Use of International Law to Protect Human Rights

    1800 Words  | 4 Pages

    States ratify human right treaties to enter into agreements and commit each other to respect, protect and fulfill human rights obligations. However, the adherence to human rights treaties is not ensured by the same principle of reciprocity instead to ensure compliance, collective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms were introduced.8 International organizations and treaty ...

    Read More

  • Waltz's Waltz And Neorealism

    1291 Words  | 3 Pages

    is more closing and China will be more capable power to take the role. And U.S. can not constrained power any longer especially after Iraq war, they lost a lot of money and more. From Waltzian neorealist perspectives here is the main problems between China- U.S. relation. First, the balance of power by arguing that true security can only be found atop the international system and that states will not be satisfied until they reach that point. From Waltz, his opinion is the world should be divide to bipolar so, this polar can decrease possibility of war because when two countries hold the great power and can avoid and concerned more about the effect if they make a war. But the main question is How much power is enough to maintain the bipolar? — He answered with defensive realism that state should not seek to be hegemon which is relative with peaceful architecture. Survival of the state is the point of purpose not to seek hegemony.But for China and U.S., the problem is nowadays both are trying to build many cooperations with many countries. For example,in Asia region, China and U.S. try to establish organizations such as TPP which U.S. is the main actor in this organization and China try to do bilateral relations especially with economic cooperations. The first problem is how China- U.S. weigh the balance of power between each other. China can rise peacefully or not in Waltzian indicate problem—both of China and U.S.’s intentions obvious reveal many dimension to the world of politics and this caused make many fear of them as the threats. In other hand, President Xi just visited U.S. to cool down the hot political situations. This can infer bipolar as Waltz said but in the ends no one knows and can not predicts what will

    Read More

  • Relations Between China and Taiwan

    1814 Words  | 4 Pages

    All three countries have political, economic, and national security issues involved and the United States and China are both in competition economically and militarily to be the greatest superpower in the world. All three countries have vowed to defend their national interest militarily; however, the prospects of going to war for any of the three are perilous indeed and the conflicts between China and Taiwan have continued into the early 21st century. .

    Read More

  • Jervis: A Case Study

    316 Words  | 1 Pages

    Jervis examine lack of international authority to enforce low boosts states activities to difficult situation unless cooperate each other. This show that without cooperation state neither maximize mutual benefit nor achieve each goal. Jervis interpret how the possibility outcome of anarchy and security dilemma have become positive with refer a repeated prisoner’s dilemma sample. The cost of exploitation is power scarification the large state by giving a privilege because of certainty of what the weak state doing. State also cooperate when the cost of security are higher and the upcoming uncertainty to get a financial support when the war occurs. Moreover state prefer to cooperate when the advantage

    Read More

  • The Relationship between the US and China

    1491 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the beginning of their establishment, the bilateral relations between the United States of America and China have changed throughout the time. The bilateral relations between the two countries emerged in the 1970’s with the ‘Ping-Pong’ diplomacy and there have been many pauses in their mutual relations. The US and China enjoyed cooperation in economic and military spheres and the mutual relations grew massively during until the end of 1990’s. The heads of the two states began visiting each other’s countries and the economic ties were tightening year by year. However, the issues of human rights and free speech declined mutual Sino-American relations.

    Read More

  • The Threat of China

    784 Words  | 2 Pages

    With the end of the Cold War emerged two superpowers: The United States and the Soviet Union. The international system then was considered bipolar, a system where power is distributed in which two states have the majority of military, economic, and cultural influence both internationally and regionally. In this case, spheres of influence developed, meaning Western and democratic states fell under the influence of U.S. while most communist states were under the influence of the Soviet Union. Today, the international system is no longer bipolar, since only one superpower can exist, and indisputably that nation is the United States. However China is encroaching on this title with their rapid growth educationally, economically, and militaristically.

    Read More

  • China: A New World Power

    1136 Words  | 3 Pages

    The success of one individual cannot remain forever, and eventually they will begin to fall. This is the current situation where the U.S. and China stand today, as China is beginning to overtake the U.S. in terms of economic capability. With a superior economy, it is possible for China to overcome the challenges it faces as it moves into position as the next world power. Though, just like the pair of siblings, despite China’s recent successes, the other won’t disappear completely. The U.S. will not disappear into the background and allow China to take complete control as hegemon, or world power, and establish something akin to a multi-polar system.

    Read More

  • International Law Importance

    881 Words  | 2 Pages

    The international law is the fundamental basis of sovereignty and equality of all states. It promotes peace, order, and justice to the international society. The effectiveness of the international law is also anchored to the international community whether they will follow or not. It is important that international community has rules and obligation to follow in order to prevent chaos in the society. The development of international law led to the understanding of different policies and sanctions for the states. It deals with conflict of the states to relieve destructive conflict. The international law is agreed upon by the international community but there is no enforcing body unlike in the domestic law. State has been relying to treaties and international agreements for the prevention of war.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Constructivism In International Agreements

    1735 Words  | 4 Pages

    International agreements makeup a vital part of international relations, and modern society would be impossible without them. The basis of any agreement is confidence that both parties will follow through with their end of the agreement. Without this confidence, agreements are impossible, and pointless. So in world full of international agreements where does this confidence and accountability come from? The theory which most effectively explains why states enter into agreements and abide to them despite no accountability is constructivism. This is because constructivism is not only able to capture why states enter into agreements, but they are able to capture on deeper level why states enter into agreements, and the many factors at play.

    Read More

  • World Politics: American Hegemony

    2936 Words  | 6 Pages

    In this paper, I will argue that the current system is hegemonial. My explanation to hegemony will then be centered on the sources of the United States as a hegemonial power. Furthermore, I will state the different primary implications associated with the rise of China and what the Roman Empire offers for understanding the United Sta...

    Read More

More about Coexistence of the US and China: A Bipolar Power Dynamics

Open Document