Realism: US and China
The extent to which China presents a threat to the US and whether or not China can ‘rise peacefully’ is a topic of debate within realism and security studies. John Mearsheimer, for example, has argued forcefully that if China continues on its current trajectory, then conflict with the US is inevitable.
If you have chosen realism for your summative assessment, you should write a 2,500-word essay on either of the following questions.
- 'From a realist viewpoint, the US and China are destined for war.' Discuss.
- To what extent is China a ‘security threat’?