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Research Proposal: Presented by Aisar Ali

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18 views15 pages

Research Proposal: Presented by Aisar Ali

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Aisar Ali
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Research Proposal

Presented by Aisar Ali


Title of the Research Topic

Pakistan’s foreign policy towards Peoples Republic of


China: a strengthening alignment
Table of Content
• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Research Question
• Hypothesis
• Theoretical Framework
• Research Methodology
• Scope of the Research
• Organization of the Research
• Bibliography
Introduction
• In the Early days of Independence Pakistan faced multiple challenges that
shaped key foreign policy decisions. Both the domestics and external
realities influence the decision making. However, Pakistan having a geo-
strategic importance aligned itself with key global powers to its own
strategic compulsions in the region. These alliances did not endured the test
of time but China has remained all-weather partner of Pakistan.
• This research will try to explain the partnership of Pakistan and China
while keeping the levels of analysis of International relations in
consideration.
Key Literature and its limitations
• The literature reviewed for this research are as under;
1. The Pakistan-China Axis: Asia's New Geopolitics by Andrew Small
2. China and Pakistan: A Diplomacy of Entente Cordiale by Syed
Anwer Hussain
3. China and Pakistan: A Political Analysis of Mutual Relations by Rasul
Baksh Rais
4. Pakistan’s Relations with China by Samina Yasmin
.
• The existing literature shows that much of the work on Pakistan and
China have been done in a descriptive fashion and less in theoretical
explanation.
• The literature found on diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China
predominantly discussed the "strategic relations". The literature pins the
regional geopolitical environment as the stimulus behind the early
recognition of the Peoples Republic of China by Pakistan.
Research Questions
1. Why has Pakistan’s alignment with China strengthened from
2005 onwards?
2. Why is neo-classical realism the most suitable approach to
explain Pakistan’s behavior?
3. What are the limitations of this alignment?
Hypothesis
• Pakistan had aligned itself with China since the middle of the
1960s. Since 2005, owing to the Chinese geo-economic
ambitions their alignment grew more and more stronger, which
can be explained by applying neo-classical realism as an
analytical framework.
Theoretical Framework
• The theoretical framework used in the research is Neoclassical
realism. This is proposed by Gideon Rose, which extrapolate
both, structural and unit-levelled/domestic, variables for the
explanation of foreign policy.
Neo-Classical Realism in the realm of Foreign
Policy
• Unlike other strands of realism, the neo-classical realism accommodate all the
variables and integrates both the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that shape the
state Foreign policy.
• This framework accepts the importance of domestic as well as systemic factors
that shape state behavior.
• Strategic, economic and political interests can be explained within the broader
spectrum of the “relative power concept”. States always opt for power
maximization not only in military means but also at strategic and economic
levels
Research Methodology
o The qualitative research method has been adopted in the
present research study. Secondary sources have been
consulted to collect data. The secondary sources include
books, Journal articles, and reports. The qualitative content
analysis is also used for the analysis of the textual material.
Scope of the Research
• Pakistan’s foreign policy direction has not changed over the years but the
scope and scale of its engagement with China have changed in Favour of a
more robust relationship. This engagement is both at economical and
strategic level.
Organization of the Research
The research is divided into Four chapters.
Chapter 1, Introduction, presents the scope and span of the research and
provides the literature review.
Chapter 2 focuses on the domestic and politics of Pakistan that shaped the
foreign policy outlook.
Chapter 3, focuses on the Pakistan’s external economic and strategic
environment transforming its foreign policy outlook.
Chapter 4 is the conclusion part providing the comprehensive summary of
the findings.
Bibliography
• Walt, Stephen M. The Enduring Relevane of the Realist Tradition. New York: WW Norton
Company, 2002
• Rose, G. (1998) Review: Neoclassical Realism and Theories of Foreign Policy. World
Politics, 51(1), pp. 144-172.
• Waltz, Kenneth N. Theory of International Politics. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley
Publishing Company, 1997
• Syed, Anwar H. China and Pakistan: Diplomacy of an Entente Cordiale. London: Oxford University
Press, 1974
• Syed, Anwar H. “Sino-Pakistan Relations: An Overview.” Pakistan Horizon 22, no. 2 (1969): 12-
31.
• Shrestha, Gyanendra. “Chinese Foreign Policy Decision-making A Neoclassical Realist Approach”,
PhD thesis, University of Central Oklahoma, 2011
Thank you

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