Reversed Synchronicity: American and Chinese Democracy in the Context of Hegemonic Transition

Although the literature on China’s rising to proeminence has almost become a field in itsself, rather few studies dwell upon the bilateral relations between world’s still hegemon and its challenger. The present study reflects on the domestic consequences stemming from US-China economic ties. Having as a theoretical background Robert Gilpin’s hegemonic stability theory along with democratic peace theory, the claims made here are that a prolonged US-China interdependence may have as result America’s eroding republican institutions and China’s liberalisation. A less democratic America and a slightly more liberal (but still authoritarian) China will probably be more aggressive one to each other and destabilize the international system.