Hegemony in Crisis: U.S. Dissatisfaction with China’s Rise

Jaime Antonio Saia, Mozambique

Introduction

The international system is currently undergoing a period of structural transformation characterized by the redistribution of power among major powers.

Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has assumed a position of uncontested hegemony, consolidating a liberal international order based on the promotion of free markets, democracy, and multilateral institutions. However, in recent decades, China’s rapid rise has significantly altered this balance, generating increasing tensions within the international system.

U.S. dissatisfaction with China’s emergence cannot be understood merely as a circumstantial political reaction, but rather as a manifestation of structural dynamics inherent to international politics.

According to power transition theory, when a rising power approaches the level of a dominant power, rivalry and instability tend to increase (Organski, 1958). In turn, offensive realism argues that states seek to maximize their relative power as a way to ensure their survival in an anarchic international system (Mearsheimer, 2001).

In this context, this paper analyzes the causes, manifestations, and implications of U.S. dissatisfaction with China’s rise, seeking to understand how this rivalry influences the configuration of the contemporary international order.

Development

The consolidation of U.S. hegemony

With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States emerged as the sole global superpower, inaugurating the so-called “unipolar moment” (Krauthammer, 1990). During this period, Washington consolidated its influence through the expansion of international institutions and strategic alliances.

According to Ikenberry (2011), the U.S.-led international order was based on rules and institutions that enabled cooperation among states, ensuring stability and predictability.

However, this hegemony also depended on the legitimacy perceived by other international actors.

China’s rise and the reconfiguration of global power

China’s rise constitutes one of the most significant phenomena in contemporary international politics. Since the economic reforms initiated in 1978, the country has experienced sustained economic growth, becoming one of the world’s leading economies.

Beyond the economic dimension, China has significantly invested in the modernization of its military capabilities and the expansion of its international influence.

According to Gilpin (1981), changes in the distribution of economic power tend to translate into transformations in the international order.

Causes of U.S. dissatisfaction

Economic and technological rivalry has intensified significantly.

The United States accuses China of unfair trade practices and strategic competition in key sectors.

On the military level, China’s growing capabilities have raised concerns in Washington. According to Mearsheimer (2001), great powers tend to compete for regional hegemony.

On the ideological level, there is also a dispute between distinct political models, with the United States promoting liberal democracy, while China presents an alternative model.

Implications for the international order

The rivalry between the two countries contributes to the transition from a unipolar system to a multipolar one. Countries such as Mozambique face both challenges and opportunities in this context.

Conclusion

U.S. dissatisfaction with China’s rise reflects profound structural changes in the international system. The future of the global order will depend on how this rivalry is managed.

References

Allison, G. (2017).

Gilpin, R. (1981).

Ikenberry, G. J. (2011).

Krauthammer, C. (1990).

Mearsheimer, J. J. (2001).

Nye, J. S. (2011).

Organski, A. F. K. (1958).

World Bank (2022).

Jaime Antonio Saia

Holds a degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Joaquim Chissano University (Maputo, Mozambique) and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution and Mediation. He is an international politics analyst for TVM (Televisão de Moçambique), Soico TV (STV), and Média Mais TV, as well as a columnist for Revista Zambeze. He is a researcher at CERES (Center for International Relations Studies) and a speaker on social and political issues in Mozambique.

Author of the book International Relations from Mozambique.