Rise and Fall of Economic Powers

Questions and Answers

What is the author's main argument regarding American hegemony?

That it is drawing to a close due to the rise of China.

According to Paul Kennedy, what have relative economic shifts often heralded?

The rise of new great powers that have a decisive impact on the military/territorial order.

What is the relationship between economic strength and geopolitical weight, according to the leadership in Beijing?

Economic strength leads to increased geopolitical weight.

What is the key issue of grand strategy facing the United States in the coming decades?

China's great power emergence. Signup and view all the answers

What is the historical pattern associated with the emergence of new poles of power in the international system?

Geopolitical destabilization. Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's skepticism regarding China's rise?

That it will not be peaceful. Signup and view all the answers

Why is China's economic growth significant in the context of international relations?

It will allow China to surpass the United States as the world's largest economy. Signup and view all the answers

What is China pursuing in order to strengthen itself?

A peaceful policy Signup and view all the answers

How does the author characterize China's impact on the world?

Truly shaking the world. Signup and view all the answers

What theory suggests that a democratic China would be pacific and collaborative in its external policies?

Democratic peace theory Signup and view all the answers

What is the historical record's verdict on the relationship between economic interdependence and peace?

There is little support for the idea that economic interdependence leads to peace Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate goal of the engagement strategy towards China?

To foster political liberalization in China Signup and view all the answers

How have democratic states behaved when their vital national interests are at risk?

They have routinely practiced big-stick diplomacy against other democracies Signup and view all the answers

What is the problem with the engagement strategy towards China?

It rests on a shaky foundation Signup and view all the answers

What is Beijing pursuing in order to strengthen its position in the international economy?

Accession to the World Trade Organization Signup and view all the answers

How do great powers behave when their vital national interests are at risk, regardless of their political system?

They act like great powers Signup and view all the answers

What is the assumption behind the US strategy of engagement with China?

That as China becomes interdependent with others, it will be constrained from taking actions that could disrupt its access to foreign markets, capital, and high-tech imports. Signup and view all the answers

What is China's current policy driven by?

The recognition of its strategic interest in preserving peace in East Asia and Sino-American relations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the optimal realpolitik strategy for China according to the text?

Buying time for its economy to grow so that it can openly balance against the United States militarily and establish its own regional hegemony in East Asia. Signup and view all the answers

What is the context in which the debate about the United States extending permanent normal trade relations with China took place?

The debate occurred in the 1990s during the Clinton administration. Signup and view all the answers

What is the underlying assumption of the democratic peace theory in relation to China's rise?

That as China becomes more liberalized and democratic, it will be more likely to pursue peaceful relations with other countries, including the United States. Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of China's economic rise on international institutions and the global balance of power?

The implication is that the era of American hegemony is coming to a close, and China may eventually establish its own regional hegemony in East Asia. Signup and view all the answers

What is the containment strategy in the context of China's rise?

A strategy aimed at preventing China's rise to hegemonic power status, often through economic and military means. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of economic interdependence in the context of China's rise?

Economic interdependence is seen as a constraint on China's ability to take political actions that could disrupt its access to foreign markets, capital, and high-tech imports. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Rise of China and the Decline of American Hegemony

The era of American hegemony is coming to an end as China's economic power grows.
The rise of China is a significant issue in grand strategy for the United States.

Economic Power and Geopolitical Weight

Economic strength is linked to geopolitical weight, as demonstrated by Paul Kennedy in "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers".
China understands this connection and aims to sustain near-double-digit growth rates to surpass the US as the world's largest economy.

Historical Precedents

The emergence of new poles of power in the international system has historically been geopolitically destabilizing.
Examples include the rise of Germany, the United States, and Japan at the end of the 19th century, which contributed to international political frictions that led to two world wars.

China's Rise and Sino-American Relations

China's economic growth is causing the country to surpass the US in relative power, which will have a significant impact on the military/territorial order.
China's current policy is to maintain peace in East Asia, as this allows the country to grow richer and catch up to the US in relative power.

Engagement Strategy

The strategy of engagement claims that as China becomes increasingly tied to the international economy, interdependence will constrain China from taking political actions that could disrupt its access to foreign markets and high-technology imports.
However, this claim is problematic and lacks historical support, as economic interdependence has not always led to peace.

Debunking Democratic Peace Theory

The view that a democratic China would be pacific and collaborative is dubious and based on flimsy evidence.
The historical record shows that democratic states have practiced big-stick diplomacy against other democracies when vital national interests are at risk.

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Description

This quiz explores the concept of economic powers rising and falling, with a focus on the decline of American hegemony and the rise of China. It delves into the idea that states' economic powers grow at different rates, leading to shifts in global economic influence.