By Patrick Chappette*, Opinion Page – New York Times, March 5, 2012 —
President Obama has declared a strategy of shifting the American military’s long-term focus toward the Pacific and an increasingly assertive China.
*Patrick Chappatte is an editorial cartoonist for the International Herald Tribune. View more of his work, visit his Web site or follow him on Twitter.
United States and China in the Pacific – NYTimes.com
_______________
See also As Part of Pact, U.S. Marines Arrive in Australia, in China’s Strategic Backyard, New York Times, April 5, 2012
See also China Seas
Love the cartoon!
By: beaufortninja on April 6, 2012
at 4:27 am
Yea, I thought it was pretty awesome too.
By: mulrickillion on April 6, 2012
at 5:49 am
Do you think that the major powers of this world is moving away from a realist approach and using ‘economic’ leverage as a form of ‘world power acquisition’; relative to the older realist times when ‘having a nuke’ was the main basis for world power?
-thus military power has just become a method of ‘show of force’? (between world powers that is..)
What are your thoughts?
By: nolic.wee on April 10, 2012
at 12:14 am
This is a difficult question to answer in a brief comment, but I will do my best for you.
First, realist theory was replaced with neo-realism. Then Kissinger restored realism, because of the failures of neo-realism during the cold war. In international organizational behavior that leaves us with, again, realism, which is, you can say, in competition with the “new institutional approach.”
As for economic leverage, I guess I would say more so “yes,” than “no.” I assume by economic leverage, you are talking about global trade. Many countries have been charged with using economics as a tool, which many people characterize as being either mercantilism or even neo-imperialism. With that being said, I think soft power, rather hard power, is the more dominant force now. I say this because most countries are engaged in global trade via the Wto, while others are waiting to join. The idea is that we probably will not start a war with a country that trades with us (i.e., sort of Kant’s Perpetual Peace “ideal”). In other words, if there is dominance exerted, as you suggest, it is more due to soft power than hard power.
A good question, and thank you for your comment.
By: mulrickillion on April 10, 2012
at 1:58 am
Thank you!
And thank you for enlightening me too!
By: nolic.wee on April 10, 2012
at 7:10 pm
Well, it was a good question, and I am glad that you found my answer or summary of difficult issues an adequate answer. In that respect you are being kind. Thanks again for your comment.
By: mulrickillion on April 11, 2012
at 12:50 am