The Eagle Eyes the Dragon and the Elephant: American Perspectives on the Rise of China and the Rise of India

The global financial crisis that originated in the United States in 2008 and the economic turmoil in Europe symbolize the relative decline of Western powers that had dominated world politics and economics since the end of World War II. Against this backdrop, the rapid growth of several large developing countries has altered the contours of international relations (IR). The rise of China and India, in particular, entail far-reaching geopolitical and geoeconomic implications. Does this portend a hegemonic transition and a shift of world power and plenty toward Asia? This article presents a representative set of American perspectives on the rise of China and the rise of India by investigating through three dimensions: theories (e.g., power transition theory; the realist, liberal-institutionalist, and constructivist paradigms in IR); empirics (indicators of power and public opinion); and policies (major policy statements). How do contending IR theories help us understand the rise of China and India? How do American elites and publics generally perceive the rise of these two giants? Are there qualitative differences between American perceptions on the rise of China and on the rise of India? The article presents comparative economic and military data, summarizes the key findings from important opinion polls, and interprets several key U.S. policy documents and pronouncements.