ASTK12310U Course: International Relations Theory and US-China Relations

Volume 2014/2015
Education
Bachelorlevel: 10 ECTS
Masterlevel: 7,5 ECTS

SRM - Elective course: 7,5 ECTS
Content

This course is a graduate course on International Relations (IR) theory and U.S.-China relations. The major goal of this course is to help students learn how to apply IR theory to conduct research on one of the most important topics in international relations—a rising power China and its relationship with the United States— the existing hegemon. The course will look at the US-China relations from both historical and theoretical perspectives. In particular, this course will examine major events and issues that have led to the ups and downs in US-China relations, such as the power transition between China and the U.S. under debate, the human rights controversy, the trading war, and the military-related crises. A final research paper on U.S.-China relations is required.

Competency description: This course will build a solid foundation for students to continue in-depth study of the US-China relations. Students who aim to work on foreign policy or international relations in any type of organization, such as international organizations, diplomatic bureaucracy, global companies, or mass media will benefit from analyzing current issues in US-China relations at a professional level. The historical knowledge as well as analytical and critical skills students develop from this course will be of major help for their future careers.

Learning Outcome

The objective of the course is to enable the students to:

  • Familiarize themselves with the dominant narratives of the major issues and history in US-China relations;
  • Understand by presenting major theoretical arguments from International Relations;
  • Demonstrate skills in expressing oneself orally and in writing;
  • Critically evaluate, analyze, and compare the key theoretical orientations in the study of US-China relations with a goal to find a research puzzle;
  • Apply IR theories to US-China Relations;
  • Develop an independent research agenda on US-China relations.

 

 

Lesson 1 - Review Syllabus and Presentation Assignment

  • Martha Maxwell, “Six Reading Myths” online, (2 pages)
  • Stephen M. Walt, "International Relations: One World, Many Theories." Foreign Policy (Spring 1998): 29-46 (18 pages)
  • Jack Snyder, “One World, Rival Theories” Foreign Policy (Nov/Dec2004): 52-62 (11 pages)
  • Robert Jervis, Perception and Misperception in International Politics (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1976), Chapter 1 (20 pages)
  • David Shambaugh, “Tangled Titans: Conceptualizing the US-China Relationship,” in Shambaugh, TT, pp. 3-28 (25 pages).

 

Lesson 2 – Realism, Power, and US-China Relations

  • Colin Elman “Realism” in Paul Williams, ed. Security Studies (Routledge, 2008), (14 pages)
  • John J. Mearsheimer, "The Gathering Storm: China's Challenge to US Power in Asia," The Chinese Journal of International Politics 3, no. 4 (2010): 381-396 (16 pages).
  • Jonathan Kirshner, “The tragedy of offensive realism: Classical realism and the rise of China,”  European Journal of International Relations 18, no. 1 (2012): 53-75 (23 pages).
  • Ashley Tellis, “US-China Relations in a Realist World,” Shambaugh, TT, pp. 75-102 (28 pages).

 

Lesson 3—Liberalism, Domestic Politics, and US-China Relations

  • Cornelia Navari, “Liberalism,” in Paul Williams, ed. Security Studies (Routledge, 2008) (15 pages)
  • Ikenberry, G. J. " The Rise of China, the United States, and the Future of the Liberal International Order"  in Shambaugh, TT, 53-74 (21 pages).
  • Zheng, Bijian “China’s ‘Peaceful Rise’ To Great-Power Status,” Foreign Affairs 84, no. 5 (2005): 18-24 (6 pages).
  • Robert Sutter, “Domestic American Influences on US-China Relations,” in Shambaugh, TT, 103-124 (22 pages).
  • Yufan Hao, “Domestic Chinese Influences on US-China Relations,” in Shambaugh, TT, 125-150 (26 pages).

 

Lesson 4—Constructivism, Ideas, Norms, and US-China Relations

  • Matt McDonald, “Constructivism” in Paul Williams, ed. Security Studies (Routledge, 2008) (14 pages)
  • Legro, Jeffrey (2007) What China Will Want: The Future Intentions of a Rising Power. Perspectives on Politics 5 (3): 515-34 (20 pages).
  • Buzan, B. (2010). "China in International Society: Is ‘Peaceful Rise’ Possible?" Chinese Journal of International Politics 3: 5-36 (32 pages).
  • Qin, Y. (2010). "International Society as a Process: Institutions, Identities, and China’s Peaceful Rise." Chinese Journal of International Politics 3: 129-153 (25 pages).

 

Section II. The rise of China and the Future of US-China Relations

Lesson 5— Responding to the Rise of China

  • Friedberg, A., "The Future of U.S.-China Relations." International Security 30, no. 2 (2005): 7-45 (39 pages).
  • Christensen, Thomas, “Fostering Stability or Creating a Monster? The Rise of China and U.S. Policy toward East Asia,” International Security 31, no. 1 (2006): 81-126 (46 pages).
  • Wu Xinbo, “Chinese Visions of the Future of US-China Relations” in Shambaugh, TT, 371-388 (17 pages)
  • Harry Harding, “American Visions of the Future of US-China Relations” in Shambaugh, TT, 389-410 (22 pages).

 

Lesson 6—The Bilateral Context of US-China Relations

  • Bonnie Glaser, “The Diplomatic Relationship: Substance and Process,” in Shambaugh, TT, 151-180 (30 pages).
  • Charles Freeman III, “The Commercial and Economic Relationship,” in Shambaugh, TT, 181-210 (30 pages).
  • Christopher Twomey, “The Military-Security Relationship,” in Shambaugh, TT, 235-262 (28 pages).

 

Lesson 7—The Regional and Global Context of US-China Relations

  • Avery Goldstein, “US-China Interactions in Asia, in Shambaugh,” TT, 263-292 (30 pages)
  • Shelley Rigger, “Taiwan in US-China Relations” in Shambaugh, TT, 293-314 (21 pages)
  • David Shambaugh and Dawn Murphy, “US-China Interactions in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Latin America,” in Shambaugh, TT, 315-346 (32 pages)
  • Rosemary Foot, “US-China Interactions in Global Governance and International Organizations,” in Shambaugh, TT, 347-370 (23 pages).

 

Section III Going Back to the History and Think about Theory

Lesson 8—The US-China Relations (1894-1941)

  • Schaller, USCH, Ch. 1-4 (86 pages)

 

Lesson 9—The US-China Relations (1942-1969)

  • Schaller, USCH, Ch. 5-8 (76 pages)

 

Lesson 10— The US-China Relations (1969-2001)

  • Schaller, USCH, Ch. 9-11 (66 pages)

 

See the full list in Absalon

​This is a graduate class. You should be prepared to be the major actor in class discussions. Your participation will reflect your regular contributions to the class, demonstrate that you have read, thought about, and understood the readings, as well as your adherence to the rules of classroom courtesy & decorum.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Exercises
  • 28
  • Class Instruction
  • 28
  • Course Preparation
  • 56
  • Exam
  • 40
  • Exam Preparation
  • 40
  • Preparation
  • 14
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Written assignment
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
  • Grade 12 is given for an outstanding performance: the student lives up to the course's goal description in an independent and convincing manner with no or few and minor shortcomings
  • Grade 7 is given for a good performance: the student is confidently able to live up to the goal description, albeit with several shortcomings
  • Grade 02 is given for an adequate performance: the minimum acceptable performance in which the student is only able to live up to the goal description in an insecure and incomplete manner