In the realm of international relations, an event might be viewed from many angles. Two approaches in this respect have significant importance: neo-realism and neo-liberalism. Neo-realism is closer to a more methodical framework that recalls identifiable pragmatist tendencies such as conflict and power. On the contrary, neo-liberalism explains events in the light of rational choice theory. Recently, the diplomatic relations between the world’s two largest economies, the USA and China, have faced many challenges. In an important move in June 2020, President Trump took severe action by signing a bill that calls for sanctions on China over the repression of Uighurs People living in some parts of China. The analysis of this event and its dynamics leads to varied opinions under both neo-realism and neo-liberalism approaches.
Both neo-realism and neo-liberalism methodologies have some differences. According to experts “neorealism aims to resemble a more scientific framework which retains recognizable realist features such as power and conflict (Pfefferle, 2014).” It means that international powers act and react to gain power; moreover, they might use conflicts to undermine the powers of their opponents (Whyte, 2012). They use their diplomatic, military, and economic powers to meet their objectives. On the contrary, according to the neo-liberalism approach, nations seek efficiency while solving conflicts. The analysis of an event might lead to varied conclusions under both approaches due to the presence of conflicting objectives of both schools of thought.
The analysis of the bill signed by the US Presidents about Uighurs leads to an interesting point under the neo-realism approach. According to the details, the American administration has imposed sanctions against officials involved in human rights violations against Uighur Muslims of China (Zengerle, 2020). In response, China has threatened to respond in a similar manner. The analysis of this important event according to the neo-realism approach reveals that the US wants to pressurize China to improve the human rights conditions of the suppressed Muslims of the Uighur region. The administration in Washington wants to gain power over China and many critics believe that The US is using the reported inhuman treatment of Uighur Muslims as a tool to suppress Chinese influence in the international community by defaming it. Moreover, according to the neo-realism approach, international powers use conflicts to gain power over their counterparts. The human rights condition is not good in the Chinese neighbor, India; however, the US administration is silent on such gross human right violation in Indian Occupied Kashmir. It means that the US wants to use the conflict to gain diplomatic and economic power over its major military rival, China.
On the contrary, the analysis of the bill under the neo-liberalism approach leads to a different conclusion. According to the neo-liberalism approach, the American administration has imposed sanctions to improve the conditions of suppressed Muslims of China. The neo- liberalism approach hovers around efficiency through the resolution of conflict. The US President has imposed restrictions on responsible Chinese officials in a bid to exert pressure to get international diplomatic objectives to improve efficiency. The analysis of this significant event leads the readers to believe that the US genuinely wants to improve the conditions of suppressed Muslims in China. Moreover, the analysis under the neo-liberalism approach excludes any intended military and economic benefits by the American administration.
It is clear that the analysis of the impositions of sanctions on China and the signing of the bill by the President leads to varied conclusions under both neo-realism and neo-liberalism approaches. The neo-realism approach emphasizes the gaining of power through conflicts; whereas, the neo-liberalism approach stresses the need of efficiency. According to the neo-realism approach, the US wants to gain power over China through sanctions. On the contrary, according to the neo-liberalism approach, the Trump administration genuinely wants to improve the conditions of Chinese Muslims.
References
Pfefferle, T. P. (2014, January 9). The Neo-Neo Debate in International Relations Theory. E-International Relations. https://www.e-ir.info/2014/01/09/the-neo-neo-debate-in-international-relations-theory-progress-or-regression/
Whyte, A. (2012, June 11). Neorealism and neoliberal institutionalism: born of the same approach? E-International Relations. https://www.e-ir.info/2012/06/11/neorealism-and-neoliberal-institutionalism-born-of-the-same-approach/#:~:text=Neoliberals%20and%20neorealists%20are%20two
Zengerle, P. (2020, June 18). Trump signs bill pressuring China over Uighur Muslim crackdown. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-xinjiang-idUSKBN23O3EW
