POLS 678 Spring 2009: Sino-American Debate (Two Days)

The goal of this debate (in content and structure) is to have students understand the difficultly in getting consensus among policy makes within the same small group and/or party. In the 50 minute class with 48 students, we have 6 students per group (1A, 1B…). Stage I: The small groups discuss their available policy positions and try to come up with a single agreement on one (about 20-25 minutes). Stage II: Then the “like-minded” groups (1A-1B, 2A-2B…) get together on a larger group and attempt to come up with a single position within that group (about 20-25 minutes). Stage III: all four groups from each side get together to come up with a single China and American policy (about 25 minutes). Finally, Stage IV, the China/America debate (25 minutes).

Stage I (Day One): Individual Groups, such as 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A…, discuss their positions.

Stage II (Day One): Group Pairs work out a joint position

Debate 1A: China view of American (Interdependence/Engagement)

Debate 1B: China view of American (Interdependence/Engagement)

Debate 2A: China view of American (Autonomy/Anti-US Containment)

Debate 2B: China view of American (Autonomy/Anti-US Containment)

Debate 3A: American view of China (Engagement)

Debate 3B: American view of China (Engagement)

Debate 4A: American view of China (Containment)

Debate 4B: American view of China (Containment)

Stage III (Day Two): Country Groups (China/USA) work out a position

Debate 1A: China view of American (Interdependence/Engagement)

Debate 1B: China view of American (Interdependence/Engagement)

Debate 2A: China view of American (Autonomy/Anti-US Containment)

Debate 2B: China view of American (Autonomy/Anti-US Containment)

Debate 3A: American view of China (Engagement)

Debate 3B: American view of China (Engagement)

Debate 4A: American view of China (Containment)

Debate 4B: American view of China (Containment)

Stage IV (Day Two): China and American Debate (two class groups)

POLS 678 Spring 2009: Sino-American Debate

Debate 1A: China view of American (Interdependence/Engagement)

**The questions below are meant to help you get started and guide your group through the debate. Although the general issues need to be addresses, feel free to add questions or important (and relevant) areas of interest. The reaction papers are due Monday March 9^th.

Also when addressing the questions keep in mind China’s “Strategic Culture” and the Realist and Liberal views of International Relations.

America is a superpower and China can accept the fact of US superiority in many areas because of economic interdependence and shared Asian-Pacific security goals. There are also positive relations in diplomatic, educational and cultural exchanges.

There are some top leaders who hold to the position that the Chinese leadership should build long-term engagement and cooperation with the US. The US is not attempting to contain China and there are long term mutual goals.

What are some of the long term mutual goals in the Sino-American relationship?

a.)_______________________________________________________

b.)_______________________________________________________

c.)_______________________________________________________

What are some of the conflicting goal/interests between China and America?

a.)_______________________________________________________

b.)_______________________________________________________

c.)_______________________________________________________

Demonstrate how conflicting interests can be resolved.

How will interdependence and acceptance better serve Chinese interests?

How do they state their case to the leaders who oppose closer ties with the US? How do they make the case to the Chinese public?

POLS 678 Spring 2009: Sino-American Debate

Debate 2A: China view of American (Autonomy/Anti-US Containment)

**The questions below are meant to help you get started and guide your group through the debate. Although the general issues need to be addresses, feel free to add questions or important (and relevant) areas of interest. The reaction papers are due Monday March 9^th.

Also when addressing the questions keep in mind China’s “Strategic Culture” and the Realist and Liberal views of International Relations.

America is a superpower and China accepts this fact of America hegemony, but America is using its position as the world’s policeman to contain China and interfere with domestic issues such as Taiwan and Human Rights.

There are also top leaders who believe that China should maintain a strong position against the US hegemony. The US is attempting to contain China. While avoiding serious confrontation for now, China should prepare for possible “conflicts of interest” in the future.

What are some of the long term conflicts of interest in the Sino-American relationship?

a.)_______________________________________________________

b.)_______________________________________________________

c.)_______________________________________________________

What are some of the mutual goal/interests between China and America?

a.)_______________________________________________________

b.)_______________________________________________________

c.)_______________________________________________________

Demonstrate how conflicting interests cannot be resolved.

How will autonomy and resistance to American hegemony better serve Chinese interests?

How do Chinese policy makers state their case to the leaders who want closer cooperation and engagement with the US? How do they make the case to the Chinese public?

POLS 678 Spring 2009: Sino-American Debate

Debate 3A: American view of China (Engagement)

**The questions below are meant to help you get started and guide your group through the debate. Although the general issues need to be addresses, feel free to add questions or important (and relevant) areas of interest. The reaction papers are due Monday March 9^th.

Also when addressing the questions, keep in mind the Realist and Liberal views of International Relations.

China is a growing power and America can accept the fact of China’s influence in many areas because of economic interdependence and shared Asian-Pacific security goals. There are also positive relations in diplomatic, educational and cultural exchanges.

There are some policy makers who hold to the position that the American leadership should build long-term engagement and cooperation with the China. The US should not attempt to contain China because there are long term mutual goals.

What are some of the long term mutual goals in the Sino-American relationship?

a.)_______________________________________________________

b.)_______________________________________________________

c.)_______________________________________________________

What are some of the conflicting goal/interests between China and America?

a.)_______________________________________________________

b.)_______________________________________________________

c.)_______________________________________________________

Demonstrate how conflicting interests can be resolved.

How will interdependence and acceptance better serve American interests?

How do American policy makers state their case to the leaders who oppose closer ties with the China? How do they make the case to the American public?

POLS 678 Spring 2008: Sino-American Debate

Debate 4A: American view of China (Containment)

**The questions below are meant to help you get started and guide your group through the debate. Although the general issues need to be addresses, feel free to add questions or important (and relevant) areas of interest. The reaction papers are due Monday March 9^th.

Also when addressing the questions, keep in mind the Realist and Liberal views of International Relations.

China is a growing power and America has to be cautious of China’s rise and growing influence in many economic and security areas including America’s Asian-Pacific security goals.

There are some policy makers who hold to the position that the American leadership cannot build long-term engagement and cooperation with the China. The US should attempt to contain China because containment will protect America’s long term domestic and international interests.

What are some of the long term conflicts of interest in the Sino-American relationship?

a.)_______________________________________________________

b.)_______________________________________________________

c.)_______________________________________________________

What are some of the mutual goal/interests between China and America?

a.)_______________________________________________________

b.)_______________________________________________________

c.)_______________________________________________________

Demonstrate how conflicting interests cannot be resolved.

How will greater efforts to contain China better serve American interests?

How do American policy makers state their case to the leaders who want closer cooperation and engagement with the China? How do they make the case to the American public?

POLS 678 Spring 2009: Sino-American Debate

Debate 1B: China view of American (Interdependence/Engagement)

**The questions below are meant to help you get started and guide your group through the debate. Although the general issues need to be addresses, feel free to add questions or important (and relevant) areas of interest. The reaction papers are due Monday March 9^th.

Also when addressing the questions keep in mind China’s “Strategic Culture” and the Realist and Liberal views of International Relations.

America is a superpower and China can accept the fact of US superiority in many areas because of economic interdependence and shared Asian-Pacific security goals. There are also positive relations in diplomatic, educational and cultural exchanges.

There are some top leaders who hold to the position that the Chinese leadership should build long-term engagement and cooperation with the US. The US is not attempting to contain China and there are long term mutual goals.

How consistent is the US-China Relationship over the last 15 years (since post-Tiananmen June 1989)? What are some of the areas of consistent positive relations?

a.) ________________________________ b.)________________________________

c.) ________________________________ d.)________________________________

What are some of the indicators, such as changes China’s foreign policy behavior and changes in Chinese domestic government, that suggest China is taking a more interdependence accepting U.S. hegemony approach?

a.) ________________________________ b.)________________________________

c.) ________________________________ d.)________________________________

Why is the interdependence and acceptance of American hegemony approach better for China in the end?

What are some of the domestic conditions (or possible problems) that would support the interdependence and acceptance of American hegemony?

a.) ________________________________ b.)________________________________

c.) ________________________________ d.)________________________________

Given the Chinese view of interdependence with America, how will you analyze the importance and significance of the Shanghai Communiqué (1972)?

POLS 678 Spring 2009: Sino-American Debate

Debate 2B: China view of American (Autonomy/Anti-US Containment)

**The questions below are meant to help you get started and guide your group through the debate. Although the general issues need to be addresses, feel free to add questions or important (and relevant) areas of interest. The reaction papers are due Monday March 9^th.

Also when addressing the questions keep in mind China’s “Strategic Culture” and the Realist and Liberal views of International Relations.

America is a superpower and China accepts this fact of America hegemony, but America is using its position as the world’s policeman to contain China and interfere with domestic issues such as Taiwan and Human Rights.

There are also top leaders who believe that China should maintain a strong position against the US hegemony. The US is attempting to contain China. While avoiding serious confrontation for now, China should prepare for possible “conflicts of interest” in the future.

How inconsistent is the US-China Relationship over the last 15 years (since post-Tiananmen June 1989)? What are some of the areas or examples of inconsistent relations?

a.) ________________________________ b.)________________________________

c.) ________________________________ d.)________________________________

What are some of the indicators, such as changes China’s foreign policy behavior and changes in Chinese domestic government (i.e. administrative reforms), that suggest China is attempting increase autonomy and resist American efforts to contain China approach?

a.) ________________________________ b.)________________________________

c.) ________________________________ d.)________________________________

Why is greater Chinese autonomy and resisting American attempts to contain China approach better for China in the end?

What are some of the domestic conditions (or possible problems) that would support the greater Chinese autonomy and resisting American attempts to contain China approach?

a.) ________________________________ b.)________________________________

c.) ________________________________ d.)________________________________

Given the Chinese view of autonomy and resistance with America, how will you analyze the importance and significance of the Shanghai Communiqué (1972)?

POLS 678 Spring 2009: Sino-American Debate

Debate 3B: American view of China (Engagement)

**The questions below are meant to help you get started and guide your group through the debate. Although the general issues need to be addresses, feel free to add questions or important (and relevant) areas of interest. The reaction papers are due Monday March 9^th.

Also when addressing the questions, keep in mind the Realist and Liberal views of International Relations.

China is a growing power and America can accept the fact of China’s influence in many areas because of economic interdependence and shared Asian-Pacific security goals. There are also positive relations in diplomatic, educational and cultural exchanges.

There are some policy makers who hold to the position that the American leadership should build long-term engagement and cooperation with the China. The US should not attempt to contain China because there are long term mutual goals.

How consistent is the US-China Relationship over the last 15 years (since post-Tiananmen June 1989)? What are some of the areas of consistent positive relations?

a.) ________________________________ b.)________________________________

c.) ________________________________ d.)________________________________

What are some of the indicators, such as changes American foreign policy behavior and changes in American government (i.e. presidential administrations) that suggest America is accepting China’s new role and views China as a “strategic partner” rather than an adversary?

a.) ________________________________ b.)________________________________

c.) ________________________________ d.)________________________________

Why is the interdependence and acceptance of China’s Rise better for America in the end?

What are some of the domestic conditions (or possible problems) that would support the view of China as a “strategic partner” rather than an adversary?

a.) ________________________________ b.)________________________________

c.) ________________________________ d.)________________________________

Given the American view of “strategic partner” and interdependence with China, how will you analyze the importance and significance of the Shanghai Communiqué (1972)?

POLS 678 Spring 2008: Sino-American Debate

Debate 4B: American view of China (Containment)

**The questions below are meant to help you get started and guide your group through the debate. Although the general issues need to be addresses, feel free to add questions or important (and relevant) areas of interest. The reaction papers are due Monday March 9^th.

Also when addressing the questions, keep in mind the Realist and Liberal views of International Relations.

China is a growing power and America has to be cautious of China’s rise and growing influence in many economic and security areas including America’s Asian-Pacific security goals.

There are some policy makers who hold to the position that the American leadership cannot build long-term engagement and cooperation with the China. The US should attempt to contain China because containment will protect America’s long term domestic and international interests.

How inconsistent is the US-China Relationship over the last 15 years (since post-Tiananmen June 1989)? What are some of the areas of inconsistent (negative) relations?

a.) ________________________________ b.)________________________________

c.) ________________________________ d.)________________________________

What are some of the indicators, such as changes in American foreign policy behavior and changes in American government (i.e. presidential administrations), that reflect an American view of China’s Rise as a challenge to American domestic and international interests (i.e. the view of China as an adversary rather than a “strategic partner”)?

a.) ________________________________ b.)________________________________

c.) ________________________________ d.)________________________________

Why is containment of China’s Rise better for America in the end?

What are some of the domestic conditions (or possible problems) that would support the view of China’s Rise as a challenge to American domestic and international interests (i.e. adversary rather than a “strategic partner”)?

a.) ________________________________ b.)________________________________

c.) ________________________________ d.)________________________________

Given the American view of containment, how will you analyze the importance and significance of the Shanghai Communiqué (1972)?