Integration of a Power

For years, the United States government and public have speculated about China’s likely rise as a global power in the near future. The thought of the United States losing its status as the lone superpower often brings contempt towards the rising state. As G. John Ikenberry argues in his article The Rise of China and the Future of the West. Can the Liberal System Survive?, the United States can ultimately decide the outcome of China’s inevitable rise in one of two ways: push the state away, offering no aid and expecting their demise or integrate them into the Western Order. In order for the United States to remain powerful, they should aid this power. Helping China rise and incorporating the state into the western world will either give the United States the chance to take a back seat or continue to be most powerful if integration fails.

            Giving aid and support to China as a rising superpower and integrating them into the Western Order will presumably end in the United States becoming the second most powerful state in the order. As Ikenberry states, “the rise of China does not have to trigger a wrenching hegemonic transition” because China faces “a Western-centered system that is open, integrated, and rule-based, with wide and deep political foundations,” (Ikenberry). China’s rise will not result in global tragedy as the rise of states in the past has because the politics of today’s international world have changed. If the United States allows China to surpass them within the Western Order, they will simply be second in line of an order that will continue to deeply depend on them due to location. Though it is possible for China to become more powerful than the United States within the Western Order, the United States will always have some power over the western world due to their location; they are in the west while China is in the east. This will allow the United States to take a step back from international disorder. In recent history, the United States has usually been expected to deal with problems that arise within less stable states simply because they are seen as the leader. An example of such a situation is the recent struggle with Syria. Most states can agree that there are problems in Syria and that intervention or other aid is needed to bring the country to order. However, the United States remains seemingly unwilling to enter such a situation and other states continue to look to them to do something. All in all, letting China take over as a superpower could allow the United States to focus on problems at home.

            Attempting to integrate China into the Western Order is the best option for the United States when dealing with this rising power. The attempt could fail, resulting in the United States remaining the sole superpower. However, the attempt could also be a success; China could become the most powerful state in the Western Order. If this were to happen, the United States would be able to take a back seat when dealing with international problems. Although the façade of the United States as a force fighting for good would remain, they could allow China to rise as a superpower and become such a force as well. Additionally, the United States would not lose complete superpower status because of their location. The majority of states in the Western Order are, in fact, located in the west. Therefore, the United States could still remain a regional power due to location since China is located in the east. Having China become a superpower will not be detrimental to the United States and could even help the state focus on the interests of its government and citizens.