The Position / Identity Logic of the Post-Cold War Sino-Japanese Relations: Balance of Threat Theory Revisited
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Chang, Li-Hsin
Abstract
Relations among great powers have always been the key factor of balance of power and power transition in world politics. Accordingly, the Sino-Japanese relations play the dominant role in East Asia regional politics. However, most theoretical literature of Sino-Japanese relations adopt realist paradigm which usually narrowly emphasizes materialist balance (military, economic factors, etc.) for explanation. Meanwhile, during long interactions between China and Japan in history for the pass two thousand years, historical legacy continuously played critical roles in their war and peace. The author thus argues that ideational/non-material factors should not be ignored for any serious account of Sino-Japanese relations. This thesis suggests that material and non-material factors are not totally dichotomic but mutually supported. In light of analytical eclecticism, this study offers a framework covering both material / ideational perspectives for case studies. Based on the “Balance of threat theory” proposed by Stephen Walt, this thesis shows two different results of the Post-cold war Sino-Japanese relations by applying the “position logic” (material factors) and “identity logic” (non-material / ideational factors). The result argues that the importance of non-material factors cannot be ignored even if the key variable for the relations of major powers is material factor. In the future, the change on the Sino-Japanese relations and East Asia will be so complicated that cannot be explained away without considering non-material factors.
Subjects
Sino-Japan relation
Balance of threat theory
Non-material factors
Intention
Analytical eclecticism
SDGs
Type
thesis
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ntu-104-R00322011-1.pdf
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