Theory of international relations: the interaction of the USA and China

Abstract

This study examines how China is portrayed in U.S. political discourse, a topic of significant interest in Image Studies. No other country has captured the American public's attention as extensively and controversially as China throughout the history of their bilateral relations. The article explores the main schools of International Relations Theory-realist, liberalist, and constructivist-and demonstrates their pivotal role in shaping China's representation while overlooking other perspectives, both in the United States and globally. The review then delves into various definitions of image and representation, offering a historical overview of work on China's imagery, primarily from an interpretivist tradition. It further examines cultural, media, and communication studies, highlighting specific approaches to analyzing China's portrayal in U.S. political discourse, such as constructivist and critical approaches, including critical constructivism and critical geopolitics. The final section is dedicated to an overview of poststructuralist thought, illustrating how representational practices define power relations through discourse.