Global Shifts in Power and Geopolitical Regionalization
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Major Powers and Global Contenders
CHAPTER 2 Major Powers and Global Contenders A great number of historians and political scientists share the view that international relations cannot be well understood without paying attention to those states capable of making a difference. Most diplo- matic histories are largely histories of major powers as represented in modern classics such as A. J. P. Taylor’s The Struggle for Mastery in Europe, 1848–1918, or Paul Kennedy’s The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers. In political science, the main theories of international relations are essentially theories of major power behavior. The realist tradition, until recently a single paradigm in the study of international relations (Vasquez 1983), is based on the core assumptions of Morgenthau’s (1948) balance-of-power theory about major power behavior. As one leading neorealist scholar stated, “a general theory of international politics is necessarily based on the great powers” (Waltz 1979, 73). Consequently, major debates on the causes of war are centered on assumptions related to major power behavior. Past and present evidence also lends strong support for continuing interest in the major powers. Historically, the great powers partici- pated in the largest percentage of wars in the last two centuries (Wright 1942, 1:220–23; Bremer 1980, 79; Small and Singer 1982, 180). Besides wars, they also had the highest rate of involvement in international crises (Maoz 1982, 55). It is a compelling record for the modern history of warfare (since the Napoleonic Wars) that major powers have been involved in over half of all militarized disputes, including those that escalated into wars (Gochman and Maoz 1984, 596). -
China-Southeast Asia Relations: Trends, Issues, and Implications for the United States
Order Code RL32688 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web China-Southeast Asia Relations: Trends, Issues, and Implications for the United States Updated April 4, 2006 Bruce Vaughn (Coordinator) Analyst in Southeast and South Asian Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Wayne M. Morrison Specialist in International Trade and Finance Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress China-Southeast Asia Relations: Trends, Issues, and Implications for the United States Summary Southeast Asia has been considered by some to be a region of relatively low priority in U.S. foreign and security policy. The war against terror has changed that and brought renewed U.S. attention to Southeast Asia, especially to countries afflicted by Islamic radicalism. To some, this renewed focus, driven by the war against terror, has come at the expense of attention to other key regional issues such as China’s rapidly expanding engagement with the region. Some fear that rising Chinese influence in Southeast Asia has come at the expense of U.S. ties with the region, while others view Beijing’s increasing regional influence as largely a natural consequence of China’s economic dynamism. China’s developing relationship with Southeast Asia is undergoing a significant shift. This will likely have implications for United States’ interests in the region. While the United States has been focused on Iraq and Afghanistan, China has been evolving its external engagement with its neighbors, particularly in Southeast Asia. In the 1990s, China was perceived as a threat to its Southeast Asian neighbors in part due to its conflicting territorial claims over the South China Sea and past support of communist insurgency. -
John J. Mearsheimer: an Offensive Realist Between Geopolitics and Power
John J. Mearsheimer: an offensive realist between geopolitics and power Peter Toft Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen, Østerfarimagsgade 5, DK 1019 Copenhagen K, Denmark. E-mail: [email protected] With a number of controversial publications behind him and not least his book, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, John J. Mearsheimer has firmly established himself as one of the leading contributors to the realist tradition in the study of international relations since Kenneth Waltz’s Theory of International Politics. Mearsheimer’s main innovation is his theory of ‘offensive realism’ that seeks to re-formulate Kenneth Waltz’s structural realist theory to explain from a struc- tural point of departure the sheer amount of international aggression, which may be hard to reconcile with Waltz’s more defensive realism. In this article, I focus on whether Mearsheimer succeeds in this endeavour. I argue that, despite certain weaknesses, Mearsheimer’s theoretical and empirical work represents an important addition to Waltz’s theory. Mearsheimer’s workis remarkablyclear and consistent and provides compelling answers to why, tragically, aggressive state strategies are a rational answer to life in the international system. Furthermore, Mearsheimer makes important additions to structural alliance theory and offers new important insights into the role of power and geography in world politics. Journal of International Relations and Development (2005) 8, 381–408. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jird.1800065 Keywords: great power politics; international security; John J. Mearsheimer; offensive realism; realism; security studies Introduction Dangerous security competition will inevitably re-emerge in post-Cold War Europe and Asia.1 International institutions cannot produce peace. -
Japan, China, and the Newly Industrialized Economics of Asia
Japan, China, and the Newly Industrialized Economies of East Asia Discussion and papers from a symposium held in Atlanta, Georgia East-West Center Honolulu, Hawaii Southern Center for International Studies Atlanta, Georgia Japan, China, and the Newly Industrialized Economies of Asia Discussion and papers from a symposium held in Atlanta, Georgia Edited by Charles E. Morrison East-West Center Honolulu, Hawaii j>cb Southern Center for International Studies Atlanta, Georgia The East-West Center The East-West Center is a public, nonprofit educational institution established in Hawaii in 1960 by the United States Congress with a mandate "to pro• mote better relations and understanding among the nations of Asia, the Pa• cific and the United States through cooperative study, training and research." Some 2,000 research fellows, graduate students and professionals in business and government each year work with the Center's international staff on major Asia-Pacific issues relating to population, economic and trade poli• cies, resources and development, the environment, and culture and commu• nication. Since 1960, more than 25,000 men and women from the region have participated in the Center's cooperative programs. Principal funding for the Center comes from the U.S. Congress. Sup• port also comes from more than 20 Asian and Pacific governments, as well as private agencies and corporations. The Center has an international board of governors. President Victor Hao Li came to the Center in 1981 after serv• ing as Shelton Professor of International Legal Studies at Stanford University. The Southern Center for International Studies The Southern Center for International Studies is a non-profit educational in• stitution supported by state governments, business and professional firms, foundations and individuals. -
Navigating Great Power Competition in Southeast Asia JONATHAN STROMSETH
THE NEW GEOPOLITICS APRIL 2020 ASIA BEYOND BINARY CHOICES? Navigating great power competition in Southeast Asia JONATHAN STROMSETH TRILATERAL DIALOGUE ON SOUTHEAST ASIA: ASEAN, AUSTRALIA, AND THE UNITED STATES BEYOND BINARY CHOICES? Navigating great power competition in Southeast Asia JONATHAN STROMSETH EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Brookings Institution has launched a new trilateral initiative with experts from Southeast Asia, Australia, and the United States to examine regional trends in Southeast Asia in the context of escalating U.S.-China rivalry and China’s dramatic rise. The initiative not only focuses on security trends in the region, but covers economic and governance developments as well. This report summarizes the main findings and policy recommendations discussed at an inaugural trilateral dialogue, convened in Singapore in late 2019 in partnership with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) and the Lowy Institute. A key theme running throughout the dialogue was how the region can move beyond a binary choice between the United States and China. In this connection, Southeast Asian countries could work with middle powers like Australia and Japan (admittedly a major power in economic terms) to expand middle-power agency and reduce the need for an all-or-nothing choice. Yet, there was little agreement on the feasibility of such collective action as well as doubts about whether the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has the capacity to create independent strategic space as U.S.- China competition continues to grow. Southeast Asian participants noted that Beijing has successfully leveraged its signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to expand its soft-power in the region, to the detriment of U.S. -
Great Power Politics and the Structure of Foreign Relations Law
University of Chicago Law School Chicago Unbound Journal Articles Faculty Scholarship 2009 Great Power Politics and the Structure of Foreign Relations Law Daniel Abebe Follow this and additional works at: https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/journal_articles Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Daniel Abebe, "Great Power Politics and the Structure of Foreign Relations Law," 10 Chicago Journal of International Law 125 (2009). This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty Scholarship at Chicago Unbound. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal Articles by an authorized administrator of Chicago Unbound. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Great Power Politics and the Structure of Foreign Relations Law Daniel Abebe* I. INTRODUCTION Foreign relations law serves as an internal constraint on the unilateral exercise of foreign relations powers through the distribution of authority within the national government. Given the predominance of the executive branch in foreign affairs, courts routinely resolve questions regarding the breadth of the executive's authority by reference to the Constitution, legal precedent, historical practice, and functional considerations. Though courts generally focus on these domestic factors, they have been historically quite sensitive to the international political implications of their decisions. But we don't have a clear understanding of how or when courts consider international politics in resolving foreign relations law questions. We lack a framework to begin thinking about the relationship between international politics and the allocation of decisionmaking authority. This short Article frames foreign relations law as a function of international politics to explore the relationship between the strength of external international political constraints on a state and the levels of judicial deference to the executive in that state. -
Regional Powers, Global Governance and the Relevance of BRICS
1 Regional Powers, Global Governance and the relevance of BRICS Dr. Sudip Chakraborty Associate Professor in Economics A.C. College NORTH BENGAL UNIVERSITY P.O.& Dist. JALPAIGURI WEST BENGAL INDIA-735101 E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The paper justifies the optimism of new global order. The global financial crisis that had erupted in the US during 2008 battered the global economy. The disaster paved the way for rethinking on changes in the architecture of global governance. The fragile political and economic global situation triggered by the crisis led to emergence of regional power confederacy, particularly within the developing world. Consequently, the importance of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS), within the global governance structure has gone up. The steady emergence of BRICS in global politics has been mainly based on their excellent economic performances. This development on economic front coincides with increasing cooperation and coordination and formulating common positions on global political issues. BRIC(S), as a united entity, is expected to shape global governance in the 21st century. The influence already demonstrated by these emerging nations will surely continue to redistribute the balance of power in international financial institutions in favour of developing nations. Though the future of BRIC(S) cannot be predicted with certainty, its combined efforts and the results of its meetings thus far reflect the potential of the group of emerging nations to change the existing distribution of power around the globe. Key words: global economy, regional powers, international financial institutions 2 INTRODUCTION The emergence of regional powers during the end of the last millennium seems to unsettle the current global order. -
Here Come the 'Brics'
oe Geo Factsheet www.curriculum-press.co.uk Number 278 Here come the ‘BRICs’ BRIC or ‘the BRICs’ is a grouping acronym for Brazil, Russia, India and China, first coined in 2001 by Jim O’Neill, Head of Global Economic Research at Goldman Sachs, a Wall Street Bank. Figure 1 Introducing ‘the BRICs’ Russia Energy exports, as major player in the global gas and oil industry Brazil Farm exports and growing hi-tech industry e.g. aircraft. China Global leader in biofuels and energy secure Manufacturing as the 'workshop to the world'; increase in its own TNCs and moving into services such as finance and banking India Hi-tech industry and outsourcing/offshoring plus home-grown manufacturing. Youthful, potentially innovative population GDP (PPP) Population Area Total $17,921 billion (2010 estimate) Total 2,851,302,297 (2010 estimate) Total 38,518,338 km2 (2010 estimate) China $9,712 billion China 1,336,970,000 Russia 17,075,400 km2 India $3,862 billion India 1,179,618,000 China 9,640,821 km2 Russia $2,209 billion Russia 192,787,000 Brazil 8,514,877 km2 Brazil $2,138 billion Brazil 141,927,297 India 3,287,240 km2 Brazil, Russia (a former superpower of the bi-polar Cold War), India Figure 2 The BRICS compared and China (emerging superpower) matter individually, but does it make sense for these huge countries which currently combined Categories Brazil Russia India China account for more than a quarter of the world land area and more Area 5th 1st 7th 3rd than 40% of the World’s population to form a global grouping which Population 5th 9th 2nd 1st is not an economic bloc or formal trading association such as the EU? It is more an alliance by which they can convert their growing Labour Force 5th 6th 2nd 1st economic power into greater political clout as a counterweight to GDP (nominal) 8th 12th 11th 3rd the Western dominance of the IMF, WTO and other global decision GDP (PPP) 9th 7th 4th 2nd making bodies. -
The Disharmony of the Spheres the U.S
The Disharmony of the Spheres The U.S. will endanger itself if it accedes to Russian and Chinese efforts to change the international system to their liking By Hal Brands and Charles Edel AKING THE STAGE at Westmin- A “sphere of influence” is traditionally under- ster College in March 1946, Win- stood as a geographical zone within which the most ston Churchill told his audience he powerful actor can impose its will. And nearly three “felt bound to portray the shadow decades after the close of the superpower struggle which…falls upon the world.” The that Churchill’s speech heralded, spheres of influence former British prime minister fa- are back. At both ends of the Eurasian landmass, the mously declared that “from Stettin authoritarian regimes in China and Russia are carv- in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain ing out areas of privileged influence—geographic hasT descended across the Continent.” He went on to ex- buffer zones in which they exercise diplomatic, eco- plain that “Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, nomic, and military primacy. China and Russia are Belgrade, Bucharest, and Sofia all…lie in what I must seeking to coerce and overawe their neighbors. They call the Soviet sphere.” Though the Westminster ad- are endeavoring to weaken the international rules dress is best remembered for the phrase “iron curtain,” and norms—and the influence of opposing powers— the way it called attention to an emerging Soviet sphere that stand athwart their ambitions in their respective of influence is far more relevant to today’s world. -
No Longer a Middle Power: Australia's Strategy in the 21St Century
Études de l’Ifri Focus stratégique 92 NO LONGER A MIDDLE POWER Australia’s Strategy in the 21st Century Andrew CARR September 2019 Defense Research Unit The Institut français des relations internationales (Ifri) is a research center and a forum for debate on major international political and economic issues. Headed by Thierry de Montbrial since its founding in 1979, Ifri is a non-governmental, non-profit organization. As an independent think tank, Ifri sets its own research agenda, publishing its findings regularly for a global audience. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, Ifri brings together political and economic decision-makers, researchers and internationally renowned experts to animate its debate and research activities. The opinions expressed in this text are the responsibility of the author alone. ISBN: 979-10-373-0071-3 © All rights reserved, Ifri, 2019 How to cite this publication: Andrew Carr, “No Longer a Middle Power: Australia’s Strategy in the 21st Century”, Focus stratégique, No. 92, Ifri, September 2019. Ifri 27 rue de la Procession 75740 Paris Cedex 15 – FRANCE Tel. : +33 (0)1 40 61 60 00 – Fax : +33 (0)1 40 61 60 60 Email: [email protected] Website: Ifri.org Focus stratégique Resolving today’s security problems requires an integrated approach. Analysis must be cross-cutting and consider the regional and global dimensions of problems, their technological and military aspects, as well as their media linkages and broader human consequences. It must also strive to understand the far reaching and complex dynamics of military transformation, international terrorism or post-conflict stabilization. Through the “Focus stratégique” series Ifri’s Security Studies Center aims to do so, offering new perspectives on the major international security issues in the world today. -
Geography, Power, Strategy & Defence Policy
GEOGRAPHY, POWER, STRATEGY & DEFENCE POLICY ESSAYS IN HONOUR OF PAUL DIBB GEOGRAPHY, POWER, STRATEGY & DEFENCE POLICY ESSAYS IN HONOUR OF PAUL DIBB Edited by Desmond Ball and Sheryn Lee Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Acton ACT 2601, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at press.anu.edu.au National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: Geography, power, strategy and defence policy : essays in honour of Paul Dibb / editors: Desmond Ball, Sheryn Lee. ISBN: 9781760460136 (paperback) 9781760460143 (ebook) Subjects: Dibb, Paul, 1939---Criticism and interpretation. Defensive (Military science) Military planning--Australia. Festschriften. Australia--Military policy. Australia--Defenses. Other Creators/Contributors: Ball, Desmond, 1947- editor. Lee, Sheryn, editor. Dewey Number: 355.033594 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU Press. Cover photograph: SDSC Photograph Collection. This edition © 2016 ANU Press Contents Acronyms ..............................................vii Contributors ............................................ xi Photographs and Maps ..................................xvii Introduction .............................................1 Desmond Ball and Sheryn Lee 1. Introducing Paul Dibb (1): Britain’s Loss, Australia’s Gain ......15 Allan Hawke 2. Introducing Paul Dibb (2): An Enriching Experience ...........21 Chris Barrie 3. Getting to Know Paul Dibb: An Overview of an Extraordinary Career ..................................25 Desmond Ball 4. Scholar, Spy, Passionate Realist .........................33 Geoffrey Barker 5. The Power of Geography ..............................45 Peter J. Rimmer and R. Gerard Ward 6. The Importance of Geography ..........................71 Robert Ayson 7. -
How Can Realism Be Utilised in an Understanding of the United States/New Zealand Relationship Over Nuclear Policy?
How can realism be utilised in an understanding of the United States/New Zealand relationship over nuclear policy? By Angela Fitzsimons A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters of International Relations (MIR) degree School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations Victoria University of Wellington 2013 Abstract This thesis examines the decision making process of the United States and New Zealand on the nuclear policy issue through the lens of realism and analyses the effect of realism on the ANZUS alliance. Broader questions associated with alliances, national interest, changing priorities and limits on the use of power are also treated. A single case study of the United States/ New Zealand security relationship as embodied in the ANZUS treaty will be used to evaluate the utility of realism in understanding the decision making process that led to the declaration by the United States that the treaty was in abeyance. Five significant findings emerged: firstly both New Zealand and the United States used realism in the decision making process based on national interest, Secondly; diverging national interests over the nuclear issue made the ANZUS treaty untenable. Thirdly, ethical and cultural aspects of the relationship between the two states limited the application of classical realism to understanding the bond. Fourthly, normative theory accommodates realist theory on the behaviour of states in the international environment. Finally, continued engagement between the United