American Tianxia: Chinese Money, American Power, and the End of History

Marilyn Grell-Brisk

doi:10.5195/jwsr.2019.936

Abstract

Highlights

If the United States is not a hegemon as defined by world-systems scholars, how do we describe and understand this current global state of affairs? In several places in the book, Babones take issue with scholars who see China as a potential hegemon destined to surpass the United States
The first chapter, “Right Concept, Wrong Country,” is a concise and informative explanation of the concept of tianxia. Explaining how it has evolved throughout China’s history, Babones takes a holistic approach to defining what tianxia truly means and why it should be applied to the contemporary United States
While technically the concept of tianxia can be deployed anywhere in the world, Zhao’s writing is undoubtedly pointing to the use of tianxia as an alternative to the existing Western forms of global political economic organization, and he implies that this push for a more harmonious world order must come from China

Summary

Introduction

This journal is published by the University Library System, University of Pittsburgh as part of its D-Scribe Digital Publishing Program and is cosponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Press. This is the opposite of the current Westphalian world-order in which the nation-state and its interests take center stage in international relations. American Tianxia: Chinese money, American power, and the end of history, Salvatore Babones argues that this very Chinese concept is most apt not for describing contemporary China’s role on the world stage, but rather the tremendous influence of the United States.

Results

Conclusion