US-China Relations and Global Indicators Quiz

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is a significant reason why the US has little to fear from China's growth?

The US is much farther ahead in military power and alliances. (correct)

The US has a weaker economic relationship with its allies.

China dominates international organizations and cultural influence.

China has superior military technology compared to the US.

Which of the following factors contributes to the likelihood of peace between the US and China?

Strong nuclear deterrence from China.

US allies in the Asia-Pacific have economic ties to China. (correct)

The absence of economic ties between the US and Asian powers.

A significant military presence from both nations in the region.

According to the information provided, what should not be the primary focus in discussions of great power relations?

The economic strategies of the Global South.

The historical patterns of great power conflict.

The supply and demand dynamics of the world order.

The singular actions of rising and declining powers. (correct)

What is the main consequence of the intertwined relationship between globalization, China’s rise, and US decline?

Diverse strategies from small and medium-sized states. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge do China and the US face regarding their allies and alliances?

Consistency in foreign policy approaches among their allies. Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is responsible for establishing the International Financial Reporting Standards?

International Accounting Standards Board Signup and view all the answers

What risk does the Economist Intelligence Unit focus on evaluating?

Political stability Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of publicizing governance outcomes in the context of Global Performance Indicators (GPIs)?

To promote competition among states Signup and view all the answers

Which index was discontinued by the World Bank in 2021?

Doing Business Index Signup and view all the answers

What effect can global performance indicators have on governments according to Kelley and Simmons?

Encourage policy choice awareness Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is known for providing indicators on national frameworks for enforcement of loans?

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of failing to meet targets set by global performance indicators?

Official sanctions or disinvestment Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the Human Capital Index provided by the World Bank?

Indicators of child health and education Signup and view all the answers

What has contributed to the illegitimacy and dysfunction of global governance institutions?

Rivalry among great powers Signup and view all the answers

Which period is indicated as having significant evidence of globalization?

1970-2007 Signup and view all the answers

What major change in political party platforms occurred worldwide after 2004?

Shift towards pro-national autonomy Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the new roles for intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) proposed in response to governance gaps?

Collaboration Signup and view all the answers

Which alternative to traditional intergovernmentalism focuses specifically on informal cooperation?

Informal intergovernmentalism Signup and view all the answers

What was one notable consequence of the anti-globalization backlash observed after 2007?

Drop in the number of new PTAs Signup and view all the answers

What best characterizes the governance gap faced by IGOs?

Ambitious goals versus limited capabilities Signup and view all the answers

What factor is suggested to have caused a backlash against globalization?

Cultural change in national politics Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of international obligations does China resist according to the study on international institutional order?

Additional protocols with demanding obligations Signup and view all the answers

How has China been contesting the UN's liberal agenda since 2000?

By promoting a focus on state security instead of human security Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated as a factor reducing the audience for China's agenda at the UN?

Geopolitical concerns and rivalries Signup and view all the answers

What approach has the US taken towards the liberal international order after the Cold War?

A more conditional support based on power dynamics Signup and view all the answers

Which P-5 states are noted to be less embedded in human rights institutions than others?

China and Russia Signup and view all the answers

What crisis regarding the liberal international order is highlighted as a significant issue among Western states?

Declining legitimacy Signup and view all the answers

What has been one effect of China’s increased involvement in the UN bureaucracy?

An uneven impact on its agenda promotion Signup and view all the answers

What critical observation does Dai make about the US regarding the international institutional order?

The US has grievances against an order it established. Signup and view all the answers

What factor primarily influences the degree of conflict during power transitions?

The dominant power's strategy towards the rising power Signup and view all the answers

Why did the US integrate China into the world economy in the 1990s?

To promote economic growth and induce domestic reform Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario is described by the term 'Thucydides trap'?

A rising power with ambitions leads to high likelihood of war with an established power Signup and view all the answers

What is considered inevitable according to John Mearsheimer regarding US-China relations?

Conflict due to China's rising power Signup and view all the answers

What has been suggested as a means for the US to legitimize its hegemonic position?

Revising the international order to attract support Signup and view all the answers

What has historically been observed when a rising state gains enough power to challenge the hegemon?

War occurs in most cases Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the relationship between rising and dominant powers helps avoid war?

Psychological flexibility Signup and view all the answers

What outcome is expected from China's rise in East Asia and the Western Pacific?

China will seek to dominate its region Signup and view all the answers

Which countries were present at the 2023 UN General Assembly among major powers?

USA, South Africa, Brazil Signup and view all the answers

What does the lack of hegemonic leadership imply for international cooperation?

It hinders cooperative institutions and leads to crises. Signup and view all the answers

According to the 2023 UNGA reactions, what is the predicted future role of the UN?

Engaging with second-tier issues predominantly. Signup and view all the answers

What year is referenced as a crisis point for cooperation due to the lack of hegemonic leadership?

1929 Signup and view all the answers

Which actor is suggested as possibly willing and able to take on hegemonic leadership today?

China Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the reasons for the crisis of multilateralism mentioned in the content?

Power politics among major countries. Signup and view all the answers

Which issue is noted as a resistance point for the G-7 states regarding reform of institutions?

Accommodating new distributions of wealth and power. Signup and view all the answers

What could be considered a common misconception about the status of hegemonic leadership today?

Only the U.S. can be a hegemon. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Analysing International Relations

The current lecture series is about the changing global governance and international order.

Crisis and Reform of Intergovernmentalism

Traditional global governance, based on formal intergovernmentalism, is facing a crisis.
Assumptions of this model center on cooperation among states for problem-solving.
The goal of this model is to constrain state behavior through international rules and regulations.
The organizing principle is multilateralism, where relations among three or more states are coordinated based on generalized principles.
Intergovernmental treaties and formal organizations are instruments of formal intergovernmentalism.
Issues with this model include inflexibility (power shifts and new problems emerge faster than treaties can be reformed), irrelevance (many global issues involve private actors), and illegitimacy (public opinion mistrusts IGOs and other stakeholders are often excluded).

UN-Based Governance in Crisis?

The Multilateralism Index (2024) from the International Peace Institute and Institute for Economics and Peace shows trends in participation, inclusivity, and performance across multiple UN-related issue areas.
Participation in the UN system is generally improving, except for trade.
Inclusivity (considerations of NGOs, gender, and geography) shows improvement across all areas.
Performance (fulfilling UN goals) is declining in all areas, according to the index.

Paradoxes of the Multilateralism Crisis

Global issues increase the need for global governance but multilateral institutions are losing legitimacy and effectiveness.
Financial aid through multilateral institutions is increasing but insufficient to address growing economic inequality.
Multilateral institutions are central to global politics but lack legitimacy and sufficient funding for effectiveness.
The weaknesses of these institutions drive demands for "minilateral" solutions, making true global institution reform less probable.

2023 UN General Assembly

Key leaders of major global powers were absent during the 2023 UN General Assembly; those present were Brazil, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, South Africa and the USA.
China, France, India, Indonesia, Russia, and UK were notably absent.

Reaction to 2023 UNGA

Reform of the UN is stalled, causing other political clubs to gain importance. (Richard Gowan, International Crisis Group).
The UN will continue largely unchanged, focusing on secondary issues, just as it did during the Cold War. (Mark Malloch-Brown, former UN deputy secretary general).

Possible Sources of the Multilateralism Crisis

Lack of hegemonic leadership.
Power politics.
Globalization and backlash.

Lack of Hegemonic Leadership

Hegemonic stability theory posits that cooperation depends on a hegemon's willingness and ability to provide public goods (buyer-of-last-resort functions, lender-of-last-resort functions, and enforcer of rules).
The inability of the UK or the US to act as hegemon in the decades after the 1929 Depression hindered international cooperation.

Power Politics

G-7 states resist reforming old institutions suitable to new power distributions.
Emerging and developing economies have resisted yielding special privileges in trade and climate negotiations.
Rivalry among great powers polarizes the UN, hindering its ability to address contemporary issues.
This power imbalance results in the loss of trust in global governance institutions.

Globalization and Backlash

Global trade, foreign investment and preferential trade agreements increased considerably between 1970 and 2007.
Then, global trade dropped sharply and FDI declined after 2007.
Subsequently, fewer preferential trade agreements were established after 2010.
Nationalism and pro-national autonomy gained momentum in political party platforms worldwide by 2004.

New Forms of Intergovernmentalism

New Roles for IGOs: Collaboration & Orchestration
New Types of IGO: Informal Intergovernmentalism
Sub-Global Multilateralism: Minilateralism
Temporary Multilateralism: Ad Hoc Coalitions

New Roles for IGOs

Collaborative initiatives by IGOs and target actors to drive policy change and self-regulation.
IGOs are now orchestrating actions to push states, firms, and individuals towards compliance in various issue areas.

Sustainable Development Goals

17 goals, 169 targets, 232 indicators negotiated and approved by states.
Achievement of the goals is voluntary, not legally-binding.
States are solely or jointly responsible for achieving the listed goals.

UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

31 guiding principles on the duties of states and businesses regarding the protection of human rights and access to remedies for business-related abuses
Adopted by other IGOs.
Used by lawyers in court cases regarding business-related human rights abuses.
Some countries are now enacting human rights due diligence standards for businesses.
A binding international treaty is under negotiation to better enforce these standards.

UN Global Compact

A forum among stakeholders (15,000 companies in 162 countries) that drives dialogue and corporate responsibility regarding human rights, labor, environment, and corruption.
Not a regulatory body.

Orchestration

IGOs work indirectly (through intermediaries—other IGOs, states, firms, NGOs, and public-private partnerships—to push their targets—states, firms, and persons—toward desired behavior.
IGO orchestrators shape preferences and beliefs to achieve compliance with IGO policies.
IGOs use various strategies, including drafting legislation and lobbying member states, and working with NGOs.

Forms of IGO Orchestration

Managing states: IGOs enlist intermediaries to influence state preferences and beliefs to achieve compliance with IGO policies and rules.
By passing states: IGOs partner with intermediary actors (NGOs) to address issues that directly involve private actors without involving states.
UNHCR: IGO that enlists NGOs to provide humanitarian aid, avoiding direct intervention by states.
WHO: facilitates private & public-private partnerships to fight disease.

Informal Intergovernmentalism

Cooperation via informal IGOs without formal structure or delegated authority, exemplified by bodies such as the G7, G20, G77, and BRICS+.
Key traits of informal IGOs include shared expectations and explicit but non-legal memberships.

Minilateralism

Cooperation among small groups of states with shared interests.
Focuses on achieving the greatest possible impact with the fewest necessary states.
Minilateralism works across single-issue and multiple-issue contexts.

Ad Hoc Coalitions

Short-notice, task-specific arrangements for global cooperation
Typically addresses specific issues without creating new rules or long-term structures.
Useful when traditional mechanisms are insufficient or when speed and flexibility are required in reacting to an issue.

Non-state Actors in Global Governance

Epistemic communities: transnational networks of professionals often engaging in research to raise awareness, propose solutions, and pressure governments & IGOs.
Multistakeholderism: a decentralized, non-hierarchical governance model that involves multiple stakeholders in rulemaking and implementation.
Different methods employed by multi-stakeholders, such as standards & indicators, affect outcomes.
Global performance indicators: Private, NGO, and IGOs set international standards, assess state performance, and publicize results, influencing state behavior.
Private enforcement (e.g., NGOs as private intelligence agencies, lawyers, or prosecutors): enforcing international law using intelligence, monitoring, legal action, and political pressure.

Power Shifts and International Order

Why do great powers rise and fall? (The factors include domestic arrangements, technological stage, and economic growth rates that affect a state’s economic growth.)
How do power transitions affect international institutions? (Shifting relationships can lead to instability and war, depending on whether existing institutions are modified or new ones are established)
What international order do rising powers want? (They typically seek to renegotiate or establish a newer international order in a way that reflects their growing power.)
What international order does the US want? (The US wants to maintain/strengthen the existing international order, given its perceived dominance, and that this order serves their national interests.)
How do power transitions affect the risk of war? (These situations are often unstable, as the dominant power may use force to resist rising powers, often leading to war.)
Is war between the US and China inevitable? (War is not necessarily inevitable but certainly possible in the context of power transition.)
Why do power transitions affect the risk of war? (Fear of rising power's potential, and ambition to dominate their neighbors is a central factor.)
During power transitions, two factors determine a state's preference for war or peace: position in the international power structure and the state's satisfaction with the current international order (states with fewer resources or less power are often dissatisfied)

Existing Power Institutions

Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) are playing crucial roles in international cooperation.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge on the dynamics of US-China relations and the implications of globalization. This quiz explores key concepts around great power interactions, governance outcomes, and international standards. Dive into the complexities of their intertwined relationships and the influence of performance indicators on global governance.