| Kennedy Wolts the founder of the structural realism advanced a new highly simple realism theory in his "international Political Theories" , and abandoned the hypothesis of classical realism humanity etc which is difficult to use as a scientific concept for incorporating anarchic order, self-aid system, power distribution, national interests arguments and existence needs etc into a core concept of international relations theory. Here, the departure point of study is anarchic state of international community. It is insisted that a country should be regarded as materialistic and rational behavioral object on the basis of scientific positivism. The study of international relations will at last be furnished with system structure. Therefore, Wolts' s "new realism" is also called "structural realism" .The structural realism theory provides a complete explanation of Sino-US relations. Its angle of view of the Sino-US relations is not optimistic. But, at the same time when we consider a grim possibility for the Sino-US relations, we should not gloomily believe that such Sino-US relations are unavoidable. The decision and confidence pursuing full rejuvenation of Chinese nation or taking of irrational steps to blindly starting struggle against the USA pursuing final victory. These two courses of action are not the best way to enhance and maintain national interests. The result will be just the opposite. After all, we should know that international politics is not a 3D picture at all. We have a changeable, complex structure with variable stereo points resulting frominteraction of multitude of variables. As a normal mode, the structural realism of course has its own rationality and advantages but also limitations and shortcomings when applied to international politics (including Sino-US relations).First, the premise hypotheses of structural realism have their own rationality and one-sidedness. So, it can reflect part of the actual situation of international community and but cannot reflect entirely. The structural realism ignores or neglects the importance of joint interests of the international community. In an age of economic globalization and integration, structural realism can only see competition and conflict, but fails to see cooperation and "joint victory" . Thus, its view of Sino-US relations looks reasonable but it cannot account for several facts. The structural realism founded during the "cold war" certainly failed to pay sufficient attention to the rich content and the many factors influencing Sino-US relations after the cold war and as a result, it cannot correctly describe some facts of the cold war.Second, the structural realism provides a new view of international community and helps to understand the mutual relations of countries and their systems. But, it again makes a mistake with "structural determinism" and fails to grasp the whole changing picture international politics. As a result, it specially brings out the essence of hegemonism. As a result, it can only see the negative factors influencing on the relations between China and USA, and is unable to see the positive factors. Outwardly, the structural realism wants to establish a kind of purely scientific theory of international politics. But actually, it enbodies a clear vestige of cold war and only assists the American hegemonism and privileges.Third, according to behaviorism, the structural realism has indeedscored an achievement in respect of macro changes which have occurred during a period, but it lacks historical sense as well as microanalysis when analyzing international political relations. Therefore, structural realism appears to be analyzing the relations between China and USA properly and scientifically, but actually it is full of shortcomings.Finally, structural realism has made a contribution to forecasting of international systems. But it cannot properly and deeply explain and forecast their properties. In a word, it is both effective but at the same time limited when explaining the relations between the two powers... |
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