Rising Powers and State Transformation (2017-2022)

International Relations (IR) scholars are hotly debating rising powers' effects on world politics. Often ignored is evidence that state transformation processes - fragmentation, decentralisation and internationalisation - related to deepening economic and security interdependence, influence rising powers' international behaviour. Central to IR debates is China, the most important rising power and often assumed to be a unitary and coherent 'Westphalian' state. This project examines state transformation's implications for its relations with Southeast Asia. The aim is to develop a new approach for analysing the dimensions and effects of contemporary rising powers, to advance IR theory and provide better policy tools for engaging rising powers.