Abstract
It is frequently argued or assumed that the present US-Chinese rivalry will culminate in a bipolar, or two-superpower, competition. The two countries, both nuclear powers, far outstrip all others in terms of economic might and military spending. However, the concept of a bipolar world, which carries with it certain widely accepted and supposedly-unique characteristics, is a flawed framework with grave shortcomings from the perspectives of explaining history, understanding current events, or generating policy to address future contingencies. I explore three views of bipolarity, two standard and one alternative, with corresponding historical illustrations. I argue that none are appropriate for modeling contemporary US-Chinese relations and offer policy recommendations.
Presenters
Brian MuzasAssistant Professor and Director, the Center for United Nations and Global Governance Studies, School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University, New Jersey, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Bipolarity, Superpowers, International Relations, International Politics, Global Security, US-China Relations
