Leiden University Student Repository

Zapata Lucio, Carlos (2024)

Through a Dual Lens: Examining U.S. Foreign Policy's Impact on China Using Realism and Status Competition

Bachelor thesis | Politicologie (BSc)

This thesis explores the the impact of U.S. foreign policy on Chinese international status, focusing on two case studies: The Paris Climate Agreement and the 2020 Trade War. The research incorporates both realism and status frameworks to analyze the complex Sino-American relationship, arguing that a purely realist perspective is insufficient for understanding the current dynamics. The findings suggest that U.S. foreign policy has a significant impact on Chinese status, with cooperative policy enhancing it and competitive policy diminishing it. This study contributes to international relations research by proposing an integrated approach of realism and status to evaluate major power relations, particularly between the United States and China.

United States

China

Realism

Status Competition

International Relations

Foreign Policy

Author

Zapata Lucio, Carlos

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

International Relations and Organizations

Supervisors

van de Wetering, C.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en