To Be or Not to Be a Hegemon: the Relationship Between Political Culture and Hegemony

To Be Or Not To Be A Hegemon: The Relationship Between Political Culture And Hegemony
by

Richard Emerson

SIS Honors Capstone

Supervised by

Professors Linda Lucia Lubrano and Quansheng Zhao

AY 2009-2010

Submitted to the School of International Service American University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with University Honors in International Studies Bachelor of Arts Degree April 2010

Emerson Abstract

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The central tenet of structural realism says the competitive structure of the international system forces countries to challenge each other for hegemony. This narrow view of international relations fails to take into account the effect that domestic determinants have on aspirations for hegemony. To address this gap in structural realist theory, my study looks at a country’s political culture and its relationship with aspirations for hegemony. Ultimately, I find that while both structural realism and a political cultural approach provide useful insights, both also fail to fully explain why Japan, the United States, and China would seek hegemony.

Emerson Proposed Table of Contents I. Introduction A) Discussion of China, Japan, U.S., and hegemony……………………..4 B) Discussion of Hegemon.……………………………………………….6 C) Structural Realism……………………………………………………..8 Brief Literature Review and Methodology A) Different definitions of political culture……………………………….12 B) Political Culture in Japan, U.S., and China…………………………....14 Japan A) Overview of political culture of Japan………………………………...18 B) History of modern Japan………………………………………………19 C) Political culture and hegemony………………………………………..22 United States A) Overview of political culture of the United States…………………….23 B) History of modern America……………………………………………25 C) Political culture and hegemony………………………………………...30 China A) Overview of political culture of China………………………………...31 B) History of modern China………………………………………………32 C) Political culture and hegemony………………………………………..36... [continues]

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