Re: China the Hegemon?

To the best of my knowledge, no one in the world-systems camp is
advocating the stepping up of tensions between the US and China.  The
disagreement is over the LIKELIHOOD of such conflict in the medium-run
future.  It bears adding that in assessing this likelihood, it is
important not to overemphasize single factors, such as any imputed
"peaceful intentions" on the part of either country, nor the role of
joint economic interests.  It is quite evident that there are parties on
both sides of the Pacific which are interested in aggravating the
conflict, that one cannot draw a clear distinction in all cases between
"bargaining" and war-mongering, and that historical precedents do not
determine the ultimate success of the bargainers' policies.

-- 
Boris Stremlin
bc70219@binghamton.edu