| This work seeks to answer the question: How well does status-inconsistency theory actually explain China's use of force from 1978 - 2008. In explaining current trends in Chinese foreign policy decision-making that classical realism fails to adequately account for, this thesis uses qualitative analysis of the factors that led to the Sino-Vietnamese War, the Mischief Reef Seizure, and the 1995 - 1996 Taiwan Crisis to determine the relationship between China's status discrepancy and its frequency of conflict. In conclusion, this work highlights the utility of status-inconsistency theory, identifies shortcomings in the current form of the theory, and makes recommendations for improvements designed to increase its explanatory power. |
