Critical Review of Charles Glaser’s Paper ‘Will China’s Rise Lead to War? Why Realism Does Not Mean Pessimism

1081 Words5 Pages
Critical Review of Charles Glaser’s Paper: ‘Will China’s Rise Lead to War? Why Realism Does Not Mean Pessimism’ Charles Glaser ponders the security risks associated with China’s ascent in his paper ‘Will China’s Rise Lead to War?’ (2011). In this essay, I will assess Glaser’s conclusions through a critical review of his paper, discussing its analysis of the contrasting perspectives of liberalism and realism, and also its claim that the realist perspective can, in fact, be one of optimism. Glaser (2011) deals with the idea that China’s increasing power on the global stage could potentially lead to an era of tension between the United States and China much akin to the US-Soviet tension experienced during the Cold War, albeit possibly bolstered by China’s elevated global economic power (80). The paper begins by tackling the nature of both nuclear and conventional military strength as deterrent to conflict (82-83). Next, it moves on to discuss the effects of US alliances in Asia, with particular scrutiny regarding Taiwan (84-88). Finally, the danger of the states’ perception of conditions being skewed by exaggeration is examined (89-91). In sum, the conclusion that the rise of China is likely to be peaceful is made, despite drawing attention to potential pitfalls preventing war being a possibility from being guaranteed (91). Glaser refers to the concept of the security dilemma – “a situation in which one state’s efforts to increase its own security reduce the security of others” (2011, 82). He makes the point that China’s conventional military strength being less than that of the United States, combined with the geographical barrier of the Pacific Ocean means that an attack on America is so unlikely it effectively poses no threat, and despite possessing the smaller force, the same obstacle of the Pacific Ocean mean China can feel confident enough in its own defence

More about Critical Review of Charles Glaser’s Paper ‘Will China’s Rise Lead to War? Why Realism Does Not Mean Pessimism

Open Document