The Shifting World Order: Assessing China’s Role as a Superpower

Abstract

The 20th Century has been epicenter for world power struggle and emergence among nations and states. From World War I to World War II, the world was home to a multipolar system with numerous powers and numerous ally systems, however, out of the destruction and chaos of WWII emerged a bipolar system as the multipolar powers had exhausted all their resources in fighting each other. The world then followed a bipolar system for about half a century and many intellectuals predicted that this system would be stable, however, as a result of the Cold War the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was disintegrated and then the world had one sole superpower designing the world system, this superpower was the United States of America. The Capitalist system was deemed the economic system that the world had to follow regulated by international organizations such as the UN, the IMF and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), now known as the World Bank, which enforced the Capitalist system in programs such as the structural adjustment programs (SAPS). Since 1991, the US has been the sole ruling power of the world and has used every mean possible to sustain, substantiate and cement its power. The US has safeguarded its interests by keeping a fast paced system which ensured that US’ authority and development always remained at the top of the chain. A unipolar world is not a stable system and there was always a chance that a power could rise up to standoff the US’ power, this state is China, after Mao’s death the Chinese Communist Party, left no stone unturned to develop its economy through rapid industrialization and in 2012 when Xi Jinping Assumed office he made it clear that China was aiming to be an Economic giant and an influential leader of the world. The US has perceived China as an eminent threat and both countries are already locking horns, as a trade war has already sprang into action. It is important for the world to be in an equilibrium and a new status quo need to be set. China’s rise to power is inevitable but it is China’s role as a power that will decide the fate of the world.