AbstractsPolitical Science

The debate about a shift in the power balance between China and the United States is raging. Numbers of scholars are arguing that China takes on the hegemonic status of the United States, whereas others refute this standpoint. On the basis of a review of existing literature, a hypothesis is set up, claiming that China is challenging US hegemony. In order to test the hypothesis, we examine (i) the common history between China and the United States since the Great Aberration in 1979; (ii) the dynamics in the East-Asia region, in particular the dispute over Taiwanese independence, due to its essential role in Sino-American relations; (iii) the economic and military relations between China and the United States regarding Taiwan. The behavior of China and the United States creates breeding ground for an analysis of their relations through John Mearsheimer’s offensive realism, focusing on states’ strive for hegemony, and Keohane & Nye’s complex interdependence, suggesting an increasing cooperation and interdependence. Moreover, these two theoretical approaches are discussed in the conclusive part, assessing whether they can explain the actions and purposes of China and the United States since the employed departure point, in 1979. Our research cannot confirm the hypothesis that US hegemony is being challenged as the US still is, by many, seen as the world’s unique hegemon. Even though it is difficult to evaluate the exact Chinese military capabilities, one can be certain that they are far behind those of the United States. In return, military power doesn’t seem that relevant currently, as the two countries are heading towards an increasing interdependence on the economic level. It is also questionable whether China altogether seeks to achieve hegemonic status, even though John Mearsheimer would claim the opposite. On the other hand, China’s increasing economic power can be said to be a challenge to the US hegemony, as it has resulted in a more equal power distribution between the two countries. Furthermore, China may in the longer term challenge US military power, which is based on its economic strength. There is no doubt that the gap between the countries is reducing, but in the optic of this paper, a take on of the existing hegemonic order is not of current relevance as the challenge only happens on the economic level.