The Role of Threat Perceptions in International Relations

With China’s rise in the Indo-Pacific, this book systematically analyses and explores the complex reality of questions regarding threat perception—why and when do states perceive or do not perceive China as a threat, and what influences or drives these perceptions? How have their perceptions evolved and changed over time? To provide deeper insight, it moves beyond traditional Realist explanations of the “China threat”. Additionally, by engaging in a diverse theoretical discussion, it studies the various perspectives of key Indo-Pacific players: India, Japan, China, the United States, Australia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and South Korea.

Mapping the formation and changing perceptions of threat regarding China’s rise, this book would be essential reading for scholars, students, and researchers of international relations studying the Indo-Pacific region, threat perception, global politics, geopolitics, foreign policy, Chinese studies, middle powers, and strategic studies. It will also be a useful handy reference for foreign policy experts, government bureaucrats, and think tanks.