Current United States and China Trade Dispute Issues Analysis Paper
Choose ONE of the following current or ongoing issues in world politics and explain/interpret it through a Realist framework:
- U.S./China trade dispute (you may choose a specific one or speak about the more general ongoing conflict)
- Isreal/Palestine conflict OR the issue of Palestinian statehood.
- Russia’s annexation of Ukraine
- North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons (and global resistance or lack thereof, depending on how you look at it)
These are suggested topics. You may deviate from this list if you wish, but make sure it is an issue you are able to understand and interpret in light of this week’s theoretical approach.
In the opening paragraph, give a very brief overview of the issue (just the basics!).
In the body of your response, identify the major players and explain their interests or preferences in the issue (since this is the realism week, go with interest!). Consider what other factors matter: which players are in a position of strength and why? Why do they take the stance that they do in the issue? How tightly are they likely to hold onto that position (it usually helps to consider how much it matters to their interests or security)? Remember that you are not forming your own opinion in this exercise; you are interpreting as a realist would. You do not need to say ‘a realist would say/think’; simply write your response as through a realist worldview.
In the conclusion, make some sort of prediction about what direction the issue is likely to take, given what you have written.
This should be NO MORE than 500 words. Document needs to be SINGLE SPACED, and it has been checked for typos, spelling, grammar, and syntax.
