Bringing China In: International Order and the Role of the Great Powers

Abstract

Can China learn to behave like an ordinary, status-quo great power? That is a big question that many are concerned with today. This study works along those lines by examining China's behavior during the Korean War and its on-again, off-again relationship with North Korea today. The central premise is: Great powers play the dominant role in creating, sustaining, and maintaining international order. Since China is a great power, it assumes that China can and will learn to behave as such. By assuming an ordinary or supporter role, China can help bolster international norms and establish the "rules of the game" necessary for the continuation of the society of states. In short, conflict might be one outcome of China's rise but it is not pre-determined. While China has yet to become a full-fledged supporter of the existing international order, the overall contour of its behavior suggests, heuristically, that it might. And, that is both interesting and important.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA615885

Entities

People

  • Mark A. Sletten

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Arms Control Treaties
  • Department Of State
  • Foreign Policy
  • Foreign Relations
  • Geography
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • International Security
  • National Security
  • North Korea
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Political Science
  • Sociopolitics
  • Terrorism
  • Treaties

Readers

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Asian Economic Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies