The United States and Contemporary China-Russia Relations: Theoretical Insights and Implications

This book examines the growing relationship between China and Russia, exploring why it has been the subject of limited scrutiny in international relations theory. It brings together leading IR scholars and experts to develop and apply nuanced theoretical arguments to derive testable hypotheses for the cooperative trend in China-Russia relations, offering generalizable insights that improve our understanding of this important contemporary case and advance IR theory.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Over the past two decades, China and Russia have forged an increasingly close relationship, resulting in the formation of a unique "China-Russia axis" that poses a significant challenge to the United States and has the potential to revise key aspects of the international order. While the scholarly literature has provided detailed descriptions and various ad hoc explanations of this trend, the Sino-Russian bilateral relationship has received limited scrutiny from rigorous theoretical perspectives, hindering the development of coherent and empirically supported explanations for the increasing cooperation between China and Russia. Moreover, the cooperative post-Cold War trend in the bilateral relationship presents a puzzle for the major paradigms of international relations theory, including realism, constructivism, and liberalism.

To address this gap, this volume brings together leading scholars from various theoretical perspectives, as well as theoretically-informed experts in Chinese and Russian foreign policy. The chapters in this book develop and apply nuanced theoretical arguments to derive testable hypotheses for the cooperative trend in China-Russia relations. Unlike existing scholarship, this book offers generalizable insights that enhance our understanding of a crucial contemporary case while also advancing IR theory in significant ways.

The first chapter provides an overview of the historical background and the current state of China-Russia relations. It highlights the significant changes that have taken place in the geopolitical landscape over the past two decades, including the rise of China as a global power and the decline of the United States as the sole superpower. The chapter also examines the factors that have contributed to the growing closeness between China and Russia, such as shared interests in regional security, economic development, and opposition to Western influence.

The second chapter explores the theoretical perspectives that can help us understand the cooperative trend in China-Russia relations. It examines the contributions of realism, constructivism, and liberalism to the study of international relations and identifies the key assumptions and arguments that these paradigms make. The chapter then applies these theoretical frameworks to analyze the Sino-Russian relationship and derives testable hypotheses for the cooperative trend.

The third chapter examines the empirical evidence that supports the cooperative trend in China-Russia relations. It reviews the existing literature on the topic and identifies the key factors that have contributed to the increasing cooperation between China and Russia, such as shared interests, strategic alignment, and mutual respect. The chapter also discusses the challenges that China and Russia face in their relationship, such as territorial disputes, political tensions, and economic competition.

The fourth chapter explores the implications of the cooperative trend in China-Russia relations for the international order. It examines the potential impacts of the Sino-Russian axis on regional security, global economic stability, and the balance of power in the world. The chapter also discusses the potential risks and challenges associated with the increasing cooperation between China and Russia, such as the potential for conflict, the spread of authoritarianism, and the erosion of democratic values.

The fifth chapter examines the policy implications of the cooperative trend in China-Russia relations. It examines the strategies that the United States, China, and Russia can adopt to promote stability and cooperation in the region, such as building trust, reducing tensions, and promoting economic development. The chapter also discusses the challenges that these countries face in implementing these policies, such as political differences, economic competition, and regional security concerns.

The sixth chapter examines the future prospects of China-Russia relations. It examines the factors that may influence the trajectory of the Sino-Russian axis in the coming years, such as changes in the geopolitical landscape, domestic politics, and economic development. The chapter also discusses the potential risks and challenges that China and Russia face in the future, such as the potential for conflict, the spread of authoritarianism, and the erosion of democratic values.

In conclusion, China and Russia have grown progressively closer over the past two decades, resulting in the formation of a unique "China-Russia axis" that poses a significant challenge to the United States and has the potential to revise key aspects of the international order. This volume brings together leading scholars from various theoretical perspectives, as well as theoretically-informed experts in Chinese and Russian foreign policy, to explore the cooperative trend in China-Russia relations. The chapters in this book develop and apply nuanced theoretical arguments to derive testable hypotheses for the cooperative trend and offer generalizable insights that enhance our understanding of a crucial contemporary case while also advancing IR theory in significant ways. The future prospects of China-Russia relations are uncertain, but the potential for cooperation and stability in the region remains high. By understanding the factors that drive the Sino-Russian relationship and the challenges that these countries face, we can work towards the promotion of stability and cooperation in the world.

Weight: 549g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030939816
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022