Spatial imaginaries and geopolitics in US–China rivalry

Abstract

This introduction discusses the analytic premises of the book’s core puzzle: the variation across territories and regions of great power rivalry and cooperation in the 21st century, focusing on US–China bilateral relations. China and the US are the two most powerful state actors in the post-COVID-19 world order, with China challenging the US economically and in global financial governance through initiatives like the Belt and Road and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. While the US remains the biggest spender on national defense, China has made significant advancements. China is also cooperating with Russia in key voting issues in the UN Security Council, although the US is the key state actor in most intergovernmental organizations. This chapter introduces spatialization as a conceptual tool to understand the variations of US–China relations across world regions.