So I thought I would take the time to update everybody on what I have been researching and why I haven't posted anything in a long time. For those of you who may not know, I am currently working on my Master's Degree in Political Science.
Last semester I did three research papers. One was on Brazil's impact in current international relations. It was an interesting topic because recently Brazil has been named one of the BRIC countries by Goldman Sachs (BRIC meaning Brazil, Russia, India and China; now South Africa is sometimes included). This is a list of countries that should make notable gains in the global economy over the next few decades. Brazil has also taken steps to try to place itself in higher standing among the international community. Former President Lula made it a priority to make Brazil appear as an important partner in global affairs. However, some of his plans began to backfire when he chose to go against the United States in the United Nations, instead aligning with Turkey. The United States is so heavily involved in economics of South America that it is counter-productive for a state that wants regional superiority, such as Brazil, to actively take anti-American positions.
My second paper was on foreign policymaking between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch. Ever since the creation of the atomic bomb, the Presidency has had complete control over United States foreign policy. In fact, since the beginning of the Cold War, no President has ever been denied Congressional approval of their major foreign policy goals. This is amazing power to be invested in one person and history shows that this is not the way the Founding Fathers intended it to be. "Bomb Power", as historian Gary Wills calls it, changed everything.
My third project was on the necessity of a formal Chinese Grand Strategy. People today often refer to China in regards to its domination over manufacturing and its growing economy. However, most people probably don't realize how close China and the U.S. might actually be a conflict. The United States is currently the global Hegemon, a power with capabilities truly unlike anything the world has ever seen. The PRC is a rising power, experiencing astounding rates of growth along with rising military powers. Historically, rising states will try to challenge the established power through acts of balancing or armed conflict. However, many scholars and experts are not sure if China is like other rising powers of the past. Their intentions appear to be less revolutionary than states of the past meaning conflict is not inevitable. If China were to produce a formal Grand Strategy, outlying its strategic interests and plans for attaining and maintaining its interests, it would tell the rest of the world what kind of rising power China wants to be. Without a grand strategy, it is possible that a security dilemma could occur where China unintentionally creates a situation of military conflict because of a misunderstanding of intent.
Moving in to this current semester, I am taking some of my research from before and adapting it to fit the scope of my current classes. I was fascinated by the research I did into foreign policymaking, so now I am looking at public attitudes towards foreign policy. Specifically, I am looking at gender differences in approval of different types of foreign policy. I am developing a scale for foreign policy, from passive (foreign aid, involvement in the U.N.) to active (spread of democracy, intervention and war) and seeing if there is trend in gender approval across the spectrum.
I am also furthering my research of Grand Strategies. I am curious as to how grand strategies fit into the scheme of international relations theory. After looking at grand strategy as a whole, I will look at China and see how the presence of a grand strategy could affect China as a rising power in regards to international relations theory.
Anyways, I just wanted to give a quick update on the research I have been doing and what I am currently working on. I will try to update more in future with commentaries or short essays on current topics. If anyone is interested in reading any of my full papers let me know and I will send them to you.
