Introduction: The Rise of China and Its Challenges to International Relations Theory

Abstract

This chapter discusses the challenge to the international relations (IR) theory posed by the rise of China. The IR theory’s development is closely tied to the significant events and tectonic shifts in world politics. Thus, China’s rise became one of the most frequently studied and debated contemporary phenomena. China’s rise triggered the demand for new conceptual frameworks and perspectives. Mainstream IR theory tends to be Western-centric and presentist. Thus, the chapter highlights China’s emergence as a global phenomenon instead of a regional shift as most IR theories would insist. It clarifies that IR theories reflect more on meta-theoretical issues such as identity and power.