Chinese Foreign Policy

The People's Republic of China is one of the most important actors in international politics today. This undergraduate lecture examines China's role in global affairs. It applies broad theoretical perspectives on international relations to understand China's choices across a broad range of foreign policy topic. What explains why China has increased its defense spending? When is it more likely to resort to military force? What explains patterns in China's trade and investment abroad? What accounts for China’s changing approach to climate change? To what extent does China seek to reshape the international order and what would this mean for the prospects for global peace and stability?