How Americans Identify Economic Competitors Shelley D
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Florida International University FIU Digital Commons FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations University Graduate School 3-18-2013 Constructing Threat: How Americans Identify Economic Competitors Shelley D. Wick Florida International University, [email protected] DOI: 10.25148/etd.FI13042328 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd Part of the International Relations Commons Recommended Citation Wick, Shelley D., "Constructing Threat: How Americans Identify Economic Competitors" (2013). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 860. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/860 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the University Graduate School at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY Miami, Florida CONSTRUCTING THREAT: HOW AMERICANS IDENTIFY ECONOMIC COMPETITORS A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS by Shelley D. Wick 2013 To: Dean Kenneth G. Furton College of Arts and Sciences This dissertation, written by Shelley D. Wick, and entitled Constructing Threat: How Americans Identify Economic Competitors, having been approved in respect to style and intellectual content, is referred to you for judgment. We have read this dissertation and recommend that it be approved. ____________________________________ Thomas Breslin ____________________________________ Steven Heine ____________________________________ Julie Zeng ____________________________________ Paul Kowert, Major Professor Date of Defense: March 18, 2013 The dissertation of Shelley D. Wick is approved. ____________________________________ Dean Kenneth G. Furton College of Arts and Sciences ____________________________________ Dean Lakshmi N. Reddi University Graduate School Florida International University, 2013 ii DEDICATION This Dissertation is dedicated to Ed Montesano. His constant love, patience, encouragement and support made this achievement possible. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to acknowledge Florida International University for providing me with financial support first through a Teaching Assistantship (2005-2012), and then through a Dissertation Year Fellowship (2012-2013). I would also like to thank the numerous experts who willingly provided me with guidance and assistance. My committee members Dr. Julie Zeng, Dr. Thomas Breslin, and Dr. Steven Heine each gave me wonderful suggestions and advice throughout the process. Dr. Asia Eaton was helpful in the design of my social scientific experiment. Dr. Paulette Johnson provided a great deal of help as I learned to use Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) Software. Dr. Harry Gould was always available to answer my questions and frequently provided much needed encouragement and support. Lastly, I would like to give a special thank you to the chair of my committee Dr. Paul Kowert, who remained constantly patient with my numerous questions, and whose clear and detailed feedback at every stage of the process was invaluable. iv ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION CONSTRUCTING THREAT: HOW AMERICANS IDENTIFY ECONOMIC COMPETITORS by Shelley D. Wick Florida International University, 2013 Miami, Florida Professor Paul Kowert, Major Professor China’s emergence as an economic powerhouse has often been portrayed as threatening to America’s economic strength and to its very identity as “the global hegemon.” The media’s alarmist response to an economic competitor is familiar to those who remember U.S.-Japanese relations in the 1980s. In order to better understand the basis of American threat perception, this study explores the independent and interactive impact of three variables (perceptions of the Other’s capabilities, perceptions of the Other as a threat versus as an opportunity, and perceptions of the Other’s political culture) on attitudes toward two different economic competitors (Japan 1977-1995 and China 1985- 2011). Utilizing four methods (historical process tracing, public polling data analysis, social scientific experimentation, and content analysis), this study demonstrates that increases in the Other’s economic capabilities have a much smaller impact on attitudes than is commonly believed. It further shows that while perceptions of threat/opportunity played a significant role in shaping attitudinal response toward Japan, perceptions of political culture are the most important factor driving attitudes toward China today. This study contributes to a better understanding of how states react to threats and construct v negative images of their economic rivals. It also helps to explain the current Sino- American relationship and enables better predictions as to its potential future course. Finally, these findings contribute to cultural explanations of the democratic peace phenomenon and provide a boundary condition (political culture) for the liberal proposition that opportunity ameliorates conflict in the economic realm. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. HOW DO AMERICANS FEEL ABOUT CHINA?.........................................................1 Is China a Threat?—the Theoretical Debate ................................................................7 Is China a Threat?—the Empirical Debate.................................................................13 (Mis)Understanding China’s Motives ........................................................................18 Discussion...................................................................................................................21 Dissertation Outline....................................................................................................25 II. WHY STUDY AMERICAN ATTITUDES TOWARD CHINA?................................30 Material Ontology.......................................................................................................30 International Level Theorizing...................................................................................36 Single Factor Focus ....................................................................................................44 Hypotheses .................................................................................................................45 Summary.....................................................................................................................50 III. HOW DO AMERICANS RESPOND TO THE RISING ECONOMIC CAPABILITITES OF DIFFERENT ECONOMIC COMPETITORS?.............................53 The Two Cases ...........................................................................................................60 Economy Size: “Hegemonic Threat” ...................................................................60 Trade Issues ..........................................................................................................68 Foreign Investment and American Debt...............................................................77 Attitudinal Response to Economic Threat..................................................................82 Discussion...................................................................................................................83 IV. WHAT OTHER FACTORS EXPLAIN AMERICAN ATTITUDES TOWARD ECONOMIC COMPETITORS?........................................................................................88 The Experiment ..........................................................................................................90 Part I the Impact of Threat, Opportunity, and Political Culture on Attitudes ............93 Part II the Impact of Political Culture and Relationship on Concerns about Capabilities.....................................................................................................................98 Part III Attitudes toward Specific Countries ............................................................101 Discussion.................................................................................................................105 V. HOW HAVE AMERICAN REPRESENTATIONS OF CHINA’S POLITICAL CULTURE CHANGED OVER TIME............................................................................116 Apparent Correlation between Media Representation and Public Opinion..............119 Representations of China’s Political Culture over Time..........................................123 Trends in American Discourse on China..................................................................130 The promise of liberalism...................................................................................131 The Human Rights issue....................................................................................135 Power, interdependence, and the need for cooperation.....................................142 vii Discussion.................................................................................................................145 VI. WHAT DO THESE FINDINGS MEAN FOR UNDERSTANDING AND PREDICTING THE SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONSHIP?.........................................148 WORKS CITED ..............................................................................................................164 APPENDICES .................................................................................................................185 VITA................................................................................................................................197