ABSTRACT
Since China Rising, David C. Kang has published one book and several journal articles on China's ascent and the uniqueness of Asian international politics. Realists' criticisms have built on a vast body of theoretical literature on alliances, deterrence (the understanding that the threat of overwhelming military action preserves the peace), and diplomacy, and on several empirical analyses of East Asian politics. Consequently, Van Ness believes that Kang relies too heavily on constructivist theory, emphasizing the socially constructed nature of a state's identity, and does not consider that volatile conditions could make China's future behavior unpredictable. Realists tend to view the rise of a new power as a dangerous, destabilizing force, and China's current prominence suggests that it could achieve a position at the top of political hierarchies* in Asia, if not globally. The enduring relevance of Kang's work is grounded in its solid theoretical counterargument to the mainstream view in international relations theory and policy debates.
