Exploring a Relational Methodology: An Empirical Application of Qin Yaqing’s Relationality Theory to the Sino-Filipino Dispute in the South China Sea

The aim of this thesis is two-fold. First, to scrutinize the explanatory capacity of Qin Yaqing’s Relationality Theory. Second, to elucidate the Sino-Filipino case, where the lack of hositlites following the Arbitral Tribunal’s favorable ruling to the Philippines presents a puzzle to mainstream International Relations Theory. This thesis finds that the concepts in Qin’s theory offer three novel explanations. First, increased intimacy between both countries sheds light on why no higher-level conflict erupted. Second, the distinction between rule-driven and rule-independent measures partly accounts for the intermittently resurgent tension spikes, as the latter often undermined the former’s conducive efforts to cooperation. Finally, relational rationality sheds light on how competing interests for each actor render both sides’ actions rational. Despite these insights, two limitations stand out. First, the main difficulty found concerns the methodological application of various concepts...Show moreThe aim of this thesis is two-fold. First, to scrutinize the explanatory capacity of Qin Yaqing’s Relationality Theory. Second, to elucidate the Sino-Filipino case, where the lack of hositlites following the Arbitral Tribunal’s favorable ruling to the Philippines presents a puzzle to mainstream International Relations Theory. This thesis finds that the concepts in Qin’s theory offer three novel explanations. First, increased intimacy between both countries sheds light on why no higher-level conflict erupted. Second, the distinction between rule-driven and rule-independent measures partly accounts for the intermittently resurgent tension spikes, as the latter often undermined the former’s conducive efforts to cooperation. Finally, relational rationality sheds light on how competing interests for each actor render both sides’ actions rational. Despite these insights, two limitations stand out. First, the main difficulty found concerns the methodological application of various concepts. Second, the lack of clarity on how different variables interact with one another constituted a hurdle to the theory’s explanatory capacity.Show less

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Exploring a Relational Methodology: An Empirical Application of Qin Yaqing’s Relationality Theory to the Sino-Filipino Dispute in the South China Sea