Theories of International Relations in the Regions of East and Southeast Asia

• Thesis title in Czech: Teorie mezinárodních vztahů v regionech východní a jihovýchodní Asie
• Thesis title in English: Theories of International Relations in the Regions of East and Southeast Asia
• Key words: východní Asie, jihovýchodní Asie, Čína, teorie mezinárodních vztahů, realismus, liberalismus, geopolitika, John Mearsheimer, Charles L. Glaser, John J. Ikenberry
• English key words: East Asia, Southeast Asia, China, international relations theory, realism, liberalism, geopolitics, John Mearsheimer, Charles L. Glaser, John J. Ikenberry
• Academic year of topic announcement: 2015/2016
• Thesis type: Bachelor's thesis
• Thesis language: angličtina
• Department: Department of Political Science (23-KP)
• Supervisor: RNDr. Jan Kofroň, Ph.D.
• Author: hidden - assigned by the advisor
• Date of registration: 19.02.2016
• Date of assignment: 07.05.2018
• Date and time of defence: 11.06.2018 08:00
• Venue of defence: Jinonice - U Kříže 8, Praha 5, J4019, Jinonice - místn. č. 4019
• Date of electronic submission: 10.05.2018
• Date of proceeded defence: 11.06.2018
• Opponents: doc. PhDr. Ondřej Ditrych, M.Phil., Ph.D.

References

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Preliminary scope of work

Cílem této práce je analyzovat tři uznávané teorie mezinárodních vztahů (útočně realistickou teorii Johna Mearsheimera, obranně realistickou teorii Charlese Glasera a liberální teorii Johna Ikenberryho) a určit, která z těchto teorií nejlépe odpovídá vývoji regionu východní a jihovýchodní Asie v posledních třech desetiletích (1989-2016). Tato práce je tedy tzv. theory-testing work. Nejdříve jsou představeny samotné teorie, základní teze a jejich predikce pro region východní a jihovýchodní Asie, zejména v rámci jednání Čínské lidové republiky. Nezávislé proměnné, kterými se zabývají tyto teorie (síla, motivace, prostředí a členství v globálním řádu), jsou pak srovnávány se závislými proměnnými, které představují různé aspekty chování ČLR. Jako závislé proměnné jsou zkoumány čínské vojenské výdaje, ekonomické spory v rámci WTO a teritoriální spory, s cílem pokrýt různorodé aspekty čínského jednání v mezinárodním prostoru. Úspěšnost teorie je dána existencí či absencí korelací mezi nezávislými a závislými proměnnými. Teorie s nejvyšší četností průkazných korelací mezi proměnnými je prohlášena za nejúspěšnější. Práce je následně doplněna i o krátkou predikci: nejúspěšnější teorie je následně využita k vytvoření krátkodobého scénáře pro region východní a jihovýchodní Asie.

Preliminary scope of work in English

The aim of this thesis is to assess three recognized theories of international relations (the offensive realist theory by John Mearsheimer, the defensive realist theory by Charles Glaser and the liberal theory by John Ikenberry) and determine which of them best corresponds to the development in East and Southeast Asia in the past three decades (1989-2016). This theory-testing case study first introduces the three theories, their basic assumptions and what they predict for the region, especially with regards to actions of the People’s Republic of China. The independent variables established by the theories (power, motivation, environment and participation in the global order) are then compared with the dependent variables that represent various aspects of China’s behavior. Military spending, economic disputes within the WTO and territorial disputes with Chinese participation are all analyzed with the goal of including a wide range of Chinese behavior in the international sphere. Correlations between the independent and dependent variables determine which theory is the strongest. The theory with the most correlations is pronounced as the most successful. Subsequently, a brief prediction is added: the most successful theory is then utilized to construct a short-term prediction for the region of East and South East Asia.