April 22, 2011
Upon first glance, China, Russia and India appear to be reacting rather similarly to developments in the Middle East and North Africa, and to US policy responses in the region. Take Libya for an example. All three of these major powers supported the initial sanctions on Libya, abstained on the UN Security Council resolution that authorized military intervention, and then criticized the subsequent military actions. This is consistent with the sensitivities of these countries over issues of sovereignty and non-intervention. However, a closer examination of the domestic policy orientations of these three countries shows that the variation in their motives has important implications for US policy in managing its interests in the region and its bilateral relations with these major powers.
This Policy Brief is based on a briefing on “Foreign Policy Debates within Rising Powers: Current Implications for the US,” held at the Elliott School of International Affairs on March 2, 2011. The public event was moderated by Henry R. Nau, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University, and featured the following experts:
- Andrew Kuchins (Center for Strategic and International Studies)
- Deepa Ollapally (Sigur Center for Asian Studies)
- David Shambaugh (The Elliott School of International Affairs)
Read the rest of the Policy Brief here (PDF),
By Amy Hsieh, PhD Candidate, Department of Political Science, The George Washington University
