Theories in International Relations
Theories in International Relations
Theories in International Relations
Today and for the past several decades the Unites States has been the undoubted hegemonic power on the planet. However, China is increasingly becoming a world power and along with its economic and population growths, has the capacity to possibly challenge the US for future hegemonic power. The Peoples Republic of China is currently seeing its economy grow at the amazing rate of 8% yearly. It is today the 7th largest economy in the world and the conjunction of it having the highest population in the world and such a high economic growth rate, projections estimate it to become the 2nd largest economy in the coming decades. It is an accepted fact among scholars that Chinas potential for becoming a world power is nearly certain if China continues to grow and develop at its current speed.
According to Morgenthau all states, like men, strive for power. Morgenthau claims that, “it is sufficient to state that the struggle for power is universal in time and space and is an undeniable fact of experience. It cannot be denied that throughout historic time, regardless of social, economic, and political conditions, states have met each other in contests for power.” (Morgenthau, Hans. Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace. Pg. 30) Logically, Chinas rise to power is inevitable due to its resources and its thirst for power is natural. It is without a doubt that the US should be worried about China since the US has a lot to lose as the sole hegemon of the currently unipolar world. If such a change were to occur, states would have to play by Chinas rules and not by the American rules which are currently in place.
Although the US has been courting China politically and economically, they are coordinating their policies and relations in Asia in order to counter the Chinese ascension as a world power. I believe that the US is struggling to decide whether it is more important to check Chinese economic growth or benefit from it. Many people allow greed to blur the big picture for the US and they are making money at the expense of strengthening China against the decline of US power. An excellent defense of this belief is provided by Ostrogorsky who states that, “the passions of the American people are not of a political, but of a commercial, nature. In that world, awaiting cultivation, the love of power aims less at men than at things.” (Morgenthau, Hans. Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace. Pg. 31) It is a major problem for the US as a country if their businesses are too focused on profiting in China to stop themselves from improving Chinas economy and technology. On the other hand, this form of courting and working with China may be in the mind set of “keep