Why China raises fears in the west: A lesson in International Relations

Our series of virtual twilight lectures are aimed at students currently studying at Level 3, to complement their studies and/or to provide an insight into studying a range of disciplines at degree level. Please note you must be 16 years of age or over to attend this lecture.

Perceptions of China in the western world have changed. Only a decade ago, China was seen by most as a benign rising power with which the west could do lucrative business. Now, however, China’s stance has come to be seen as increasingly aggressive and its power excessive. In this lecture, we examine the reasons for the west’s wariness; we explore key ideas such as the power, the balance of power, power maximising, and the effects of leadership and other ‘signals’ of intent. Through our brief study of China, we gain a glimpse of the kind of pragmatic assessments states make of each other that form part of the practice of Realpolitik - a central plank of International Relations.