ABSTRACT
David C. Kang's approach to international relations in China Rising is his critique of the Eurocentric nature of the field itself. He explains that European- and American-biased theories of international relations are poorly equipped to deal with Asia and its long-term history and identity. He provides a model of a different way of thinking about international politics and the potential consequences of a rising power by emphasizing a non-Western perspective. He seeks to describe a scenario in which Chinese ascendancy creates a positive-sum game, involving China, other Asian states, and the United States—that is, a situation in which no player "wins" at the expense of any other. Many Asian states are suspicious of the United States either as a global hegemon (dominant power) willing to impose its own interests and agenda outside its borders, or as unable to provide aid when it is needed most.
