INTR2005 The Next Superpower? The Rise of China in the 21st Century

China is rising rapidly from relative isolation in international relations to great power status. A fundamental question is what happens to a regional order based on the primacy of one great power when that primacy is challenged by a rising power? The Topic looks at the debates in the foreign policy literature over how best to answer this question. It explores the diplomatic, economic and military policies that define China's rise under President Xi's leadership, as well as the challenges. These include managing environmental degradation, how to run a market economy with an authoritarian one-party state, an ageing population, growing social inequality, endemic corruption and how to control social media. The topic concludes with an assessment of the challenges posed by China's rise to Australia's foreign and defence policies.

The topic aims to:

• Introduce the role played by China in key international institutions and groupings such as the G-20
• Explain the key concepts in Chinese foreign policy
• Examine the major debates in international relations over the implications of China's rise
• Identify the challenges posed by rapid social change and growth in markets
• Provide insights into the political, economic and security challenges for Australian foreign policy makers arising from China's rise

1. Assess debates about how the international community should engage China
2. Analyse trends in Chinese foreign policy
3. Distinguish between different academic perspectives on whether China's rise is peaceful or will result in conflict
4. Describe the economic, diplomatic and military dimensions of China's rise
5. Understand China's social and economic challenges which may delay its rise to great power status