A Constructivist Approach To Great Power Maritime Relations in the South China Sea
Abstract
United States-China (hereafter great power) realist competition in the South China Sea (SCS) fails to inhibit growing military capabilities, give cause for de-escalation, and harmonize Chinas integration into the established order the time is ripe for new approaches. The author analyzes realist and liberalist ineffectiveness and argues that a constructivist approach can achieve a better state and dampen great power competition extremes in the SCS. Lessons garnered from constructivisms role in ending the Cold War and misperceptions underpinning the Vietnam War can be reflected upon current SCS great power struggles. Constructivist processes could dampen mutually harmful SCS competition extremes if the United States and China can find areas to establish new identities and interests to institutionalize positive security identifications. Events such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2011 Japan tsunami, and recurrent typhoons exemplify the significant environmental vulnerabilities surrounding the SCS and illuminate practical issues constructivism can address while establishing shared great power interests. This constructivist strategy can be operationalized through recurring great power maritime humanitarian exercises, which would also synchronize Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) responses
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 27, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1178219
Entities
People
- Jon D. Harbaugh
Organizations
- Naval War College