In Between Anarchy and Order : U.S. and Chinese Programs of International Order

The paper explores the divergent U.S. integrationist and Chinese coexistence programs of international order. The U.S. program of international order is based on the aspiration to create a unison international order on the basis of the liberal concepts of civil rights, democracy and market economy which is implemented by means of the U.S. alignment system. The Chinese program of international order is based on the aspiration to establish a pluralistic international order on the basis of the concept of peaceful coexistence which is implemented by means of the UN network of multilateral security institutions at global and regional levels. The paper concludes that these programs of international order give rise to an international system without clear rules of the game. This system is unpredictable and expensive to operate in because it does not encompass permanent mechanisms of conflict resolution. However, the U.S., China and the secondary and small powers see this system as relatively beneficial for their interests and values. Consequently, this in between system of disjointed and intersecting practices of international conduct is likely to stay in place for most of the 21st century