ABSTRACT
David C. Kang sought to highlight the difference between East Asian and Western perspectives on Asian history and how this influences different interpretations of developments in international politics. Through his analysis, Kang exposes the Eurocentric nature of contemporary international relations theory, showing that many propositions by scholars in the discipline are derived from just the last two centuries of European history. He first addresses theoretical issues, such as the relationship between political ideas and material factors. Next, he applies his theoretical approach and tests it against both long-term history and recent developments in East Asian international relations, demonstrating the stabilizing effect of the Chinese rise. He explains that most countries in the region see the strength of China as an advance toward greater political and economic stability, while the United States and its allies tend to regard it as a threat.
