TEHRAN - Alexander Wendt, a distinguished political scientist, believes that in the long run the rise of China will push the global system toward bipolarity.

“In the long run the system is heading toward bipolarity,” Wendt, who is one of the core social constructivist scholars in the field of international relations, tells the Tehran Times.

However Professor Wendt says he does not “perceive the rise of China as a threat to the U.S., at least as long as China’s leadership remains committed to a ‘peaceful rise’.”

Following is the full text of the interview:

Q: Do you think the rise of China will change the polarity of international system from unipolar to bipolar?

A: Yes, in the long run the system is heading toward bipolarity, though I think that will take decades (at least if we are talking about military bipolarity), and by that time the EU might be consolidated and strong enough that the system will actually be tripolar instead.

Q: Some believe the rise of China will force the U.S. to look for new allies including India in Asia. Is the emergence of China so serious that it forces Washington to seek to build new alignments in the region?

A: Yes, I do think that the U.S. will cultivate new relationships, especially with India, but I think that would have happened anyway, even without the rise of China.

Q: Considering the facts of complex interdependence, especially strong economic relationship between the U.S. and China, can new alignments be in the interest of the two counties?

A: Yes, I think there is a lot of overlap between the interests of the U.S. and China, especially in the economic area; my only real worries center on the geopolitics of the South China Sea.

Q: Do you think the rise of China is a threat to the U.S.?

A: No, overall I do not perceive the rise of China as a threat to the US, at least as long as China’s leadership remains committed to a “peaceful rise;” but it will require some adjustments in U.S. foreign policy.


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I do not perceive the rise of China as a threat to the US, at least as long as China’s leadership remains committed to a ‘peaceful rise’