East Asian Security Dilemmas: Assessing the Potential for Regional (In)Stability through Theoretical Frameworks

Do international relations theories predict a more stable East Asia? With this year marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, the prospects for stable, peaceful relations in East Asia remain a compelling issue. Visions of stability in East Asia are occurring against a larger global trend in warfare reduction and decreased violence. In an endeavor to predict the trajectory of regional stability, I introduce a range of theoretical perspectives in their abstract forms. After the theories are introduced, I consider them in the context of East Asia. Then, I examine observable, empirical evidence to predicate either stability or instability.;I ascertain which arguments most persuasively predict the future security environment of East Asia based on empirical support. For this reason, the more empirical evidence there is to support a theory, the better the theory is at predicting regional (in)stability. I argue: Out of the arguments predicting stability, I find economic interdependence and institutionalism to be the strongest; out of the arguments predicting instability, I find historical memory and nationalism to be the strongest..;While theory and observable events exist independently of each other, they are rarely discussed concurrently in the context of East Asia. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to summarize, synthesize, update, and contextualize East Asian international relations through theoretical frameworks. This assessment will add to existing scholarship by providing a more comprehensive and accurate evaluation of the current and future security situation in East Asia.