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Beyond Paradigms

Understanding the South China Sea Dispute Using Analytic Eclecticism

Bibliographic Data

ID9976249
AuthorsSalvador Santino F Regilme (0000-0001-6597-2642, Tenured University Lecturer of International Relations, History and International Studies, Institute for History, Leiden University, The Netherlands, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume55
Issue3
Pages213-237
Publication date2018-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-8817 • E-ISSN: 0973-0702
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0020881718794527
OpenAlexW2892137382
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited52

Why did claimant states in the South China Sea (SCS) dispute, especially China, recently increase its militarization activities, in unprecedented ways that were relatively absent in the previous decades? Espousing an analytically eclectic explanation rather than using one single International Relations (IR) paradigm, this essay demonstrates three key exploratory arguments. First, the enduring Chinese military insecurity from American dominance in Southeast Asia has been recently amplified by the confluence of China’s economic rise, and more importantly, the power struggle in the current Xi Jinping-led regime. The article offers a domestic politics-oriented approach in explaining the strategic resolve of Beijing to militarize the disputed SCS region. Second, although many countries in the region uphold a ‘hedging foreign policy strategy’, which refers to their strategic engagement both with China and the USA, the Southeast Asian countries’ patterns of foreign policy behaviour and identity politics suggest that their longterm aspiration still relies on the USA as their primary security guarantor. Third, notwithstanding such perception of Southeast Asian states towards the USA, this article demonstrates that Washington’s long-term commitment of upholding its security guarantees to its Southeast Asian partners is hindered by the US interest to strategically engage with Beijing on broader issues of global governance

Beijing · China · Development economics · Dominance (genetics · Economics · Economy · Foreign policy · Great power · Militarization · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · International Development and Aid · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Law · Maritime Security and History

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Unique citing works8
Citations per year1,14
Citation span2019 - 2024 (6)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 8
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