Great Powers and Geopolitics

Abstract

Ample empirical evidence points to recent power shifts in multiple areas of international relations taking place between industrialized countries and emerging powers, and between states and non-state actors. Yet there is a dearth of theoretical interpretation and synthesis of these findings, and a growing need for coherent approaches to understand and measure the transformation. This edited series aims to bring together scholars from all major world regions as well as different disciplines in order to discuss and possibly blend their different approaches and provide new frameworks for the understanding of global affairs and the governance of global power shifts. More information about this series at

The Saudi Arabia–China relationship at a crossroad: A neoclassical realist analysis

“…The second-tier state still value the benefits by supporting the existing system, but meanwhile engage the challenger of the system. For example, Scholars also tends to use the term hedging to conceptualize Iran, Saudi Arabia, or Gulf Monarchies in general, Southeast Asian countries, Russia, and Brazil's strategies to manage their relations with great powers (Fulton, 2020;Klieman, 2015;Medeiros, 2005;Tessman, 2012). Not necessarily due to the system imperatives, the authors tend to perceive hedging as a more prevalent strategy.…”