ABSTRACT
The main aim of this book is to try to shed some light on this assertion, but whose conceptualisation of world hegemony differs considerably from those advanced by mainstream IR/IPE theorists. To develop a more convincing i.e. structural theory of hegemony the people return to Gramsci himself, reviewing his reading of the structure-agency debate which, in terms of meta-theory, is shown to be compatible with 'critical realist philosophy of science', first propounded by Roy Bhaskar. Sadly, given the vastness of the topic and the space available, it has proven impossible to engage in an extensive study and address all of the facets of the Sino-American relationship, covering what it considers the most significant aspects. The chapter begins by examining the economic and geopolitical effects of China's rise in developing countries and its neighbours. Finally, one might pose the question as to why the book chooses to concentrate on China at the expense of other countries.
