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: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2023
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 in knowledge, 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 political dynamics that have shaped the China-Russia relationship. It explores the factors that have contributed to the growth of bilateral cooperation, including shared interests, strategic concerns, and the search for alternatives to Western influence. The chapter also highlights the challenges and complexities that the relationship has faced, such as territorial disputes, military tensions, and ideological differences.

The second chapter examines the theoretical frameworks that have been used to explain the China-Russia relationship. It explores the contributions of realism, constructivism, and liberalism to our understanding of international relations and their relevance to the China-Russia case. The chapter argues that each theoretical framework offers different insights into the dynamics of the relationship and highlights the limitations of each approach.

The third chapter explores the economic and strategic dimensions of the China-Russia relationship. It examines the trade and investment flows between the two countries, as well as their cooperation in various regional and global institutions. The chapter also discusses the challenges and opportunities that the relationship presents for both China and Russia, such as competition for resources, geopolitical tensions, and the potential for cooperation in addressing global challenges such as climate change and pandemics.

The fourth chapter examines the political and security dimensions of the China-Russia relationship. It explores the role of the two countries in regional and global security affairs, including their cooperation in the United Nations Security Council, NATO, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The chapter also discusses the challenges and opportunities that the relationship presents for both China and Russia, such as the potential for military conflict, the role of non-traditional security threats, and the need for cooperation in addressing regional and global security challenges.

The fifth chapter examines the cultural and social dimensions of the China-Russia relationship. It explores the exchange of ideas, values, and cultural practices between the two countries, as well as their cooperation in education, science, and technology. The chapter also discusses the challenges and opportunities that the relationship presents for both China and Russia, such as the potential for cultural clashes, the role of soft power in international relations, and the need for cooperation in promoting cultural understanding and tolerance.

The sixth chapter examines the historical and institutional factors that have influenced the China-Russia relationship. It explores the role of historical leg
trauma, such as the Sino-Japanese War and the Cold War, in shaping the current dynamics of the relationship, as well as the role of institutions such as the European Union, the United States, and the Russian Federation in influencing the relationship. The chapter also discusses the challenges and opportunities that the relationship presents for both China and Russia, such as the potential for historical revisionism, the role of international institutions in promoting stability, and the need for cooperation in addressing historical legacies and promoting reconciliation.

The seventh chapter examines the future prospects of the China-Russia relationship. It explores the potential for further cooperation and conflict between the two countries, as well as the factors that will shape the future trajectory of the relationship. The chapter also discusses the challenges and opportunities that the relationship presents for both China and Russia, such as the potential for economic integration, the role of technology in shaping the future of international relations, and the need for cooperation in addressing global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and terrorism.

In conclusion, 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 complex and multifaceted China-Russia relationship. The chapters in this book offer generalizable insights that enhance our understanding of a crucial contemporary case while also advancing IR theory in significant ways. The book provides a valuable contribution to the field of international relations and will be of interest to scholars, policymakers, and practitioners alike.

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 in knowledge, 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 political dynamics that have shaped the China-Russia relationship. It explores the factors. The factors that have contributed to the growth of bilateral cooperation, including shared interests, strategic concerns, and the search for alternatives to Western influence. The chapter also highlights the challenges and complexities that the relationship has faced, such as territorial disputes, military tensions, and ideological differences.

The second chapter examines the theoretical frameworks that have been used to explain the China-Russia relationship. It explores the contributions of realism, constructivism, and liberalism to our understanding of international relations and their relevance to the China-Russia case. The chapter argues that each theoretical framework offers different insights into the dynamics of the relationship and highlights the limitations of each approach.

The third chapter explores the economic and strategic dimensions of the China-Russia relationship. It examines the trade and investment flows. The trade and investment flows between the two countries, as well as their cooperation in various regional and global institutions. The chapter also discusses the challenges and opportunities that the relationship presents for both China and Russia, such as competition for resources, geopolitical tensions, and the potential for cooperation in addressing global challenges such as climate change and pandemics.

The fourth chapter examines the political and security dimensions of the China-Russia relationship. It explores the role of the two countries in regional and global security affairs, including their cooperation in the United Nations Security Council, NATO, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The chapter also discusses the challenges and opportunities that the relationship presents for both China and Russia, such as the potential for military conflict, the role of non-traditional security threats, and the need for cooperation in addressing regional and global security challenges.

The fifth chapter examines the cultural and social dimensions of the China-Russia relationship. It explores the exchange of ideas, values, and cultural practices between the two countries, as well as their cooperation in education, science, and technology. The chapter also discusses the challenges and opportunities that the relationship presents for both China and Russia, such as the potential for cultural clashes, the role of soft power in international relations, and the need for cooperation in promoting cultural understanding and tolerance.

The sixth chapter examines the historical and institutional factors that have influenced the China-Russia relationship. It explores the role of historical trauma, such as the Sino-Japanese War and the Cold War, in shaping the current dynamics of the relationship, as well as the role of institutions such as the European Union, the United States, and the Russian Federation in influencing the relationship. The chapter also discusses the challenges and opportunities that the relationship presents for both China and Russia, such as the potential for historical revisionism, the role of international institutions in promoting stability, and the need for cooperation in addressing historical legacies and promoting reconciliation.

The seventh chapter examines the future prospects of the China-Russia relationship. It explores the potential for further cooperation and conflict between the two countries, as well as the factors that will shape the future trajectory of the relationship. The chapter also discusses the challenges and opportunities that the relationship presents for both China and Russia, such as the potential for economic, the role of technology in shaping the future of international relations, and the need for cooperation in addressing global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and terrorism.

Weight: 427g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030939847
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022