Analyzing the US-China Trade War from the Perspectives of Realism, Liberalism, and Marxism

Subject Areas : Political Sciences- International Relations

younes kamaizadeh ^{1 *} , Jahanbakhsh Moradi ² , Hamed Mohaghegh Nia ³

1 -
2 - Department of Political Science, Ilam Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran
3 - Department of Political Science, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran

Received: 2025-05-24 Accepted : 2025-08-25 Published : 2025-08-27

Keywords: Trade War, Realism, Liberalism, Marxism,

Abstract :

For several decades, the world's two major economic powers – the United States of America and China – have reached agreements on many contentious issues. However, during the presidency of Donald Trump, the US government attempted to end this cooperative relationship by increasing tariffs and initiating a trade war with China. This research seeks to answer the following questions: What are the effective factors in the US-China trade war and its consequences? And what do the major theories of international relations (Realism, Liberalism, and Marxism) say about the US-China trade war? This article considers the US-China relationship as a form of bargaining for dominance in the technology sector and the international system. Realists believe this trade war will be long-lasting and will likely escalate into a broader conflict. Liberals believe that the likelihood of this war escalating is low, and the United States and China will cooperate by signing trade agreements. Marxists argue that the US-China trade war is just one of the conflicts arising from the global capitalist system, and through this war, the employment rate in the US cannot be sustainably increased.

References:
For several decades, the world's two major economic powers – the United States of America and China – have reached agreements on many contentious issues. However, during the presidency of Donald Trump, the US government attempted to end this cooperative relationship by increasing tariffs and initiating a trade war with China. This research seeks to answer the following questions: What are the effective factors in the US-China trade war and its consequences? And what do the major theories of international relations (Realism, Liberalism, and Marxism) say about the US-China trade war? This article considers the US-China relationship as a form of bargaining for dominance in the technology sector and the international system. Realists believe this trade war will be long-lasting and will likely escalate into a broader conflict. Liberals believe that the likelihood of this war escalating is low, and the United States and China will cooperate by signing trade agreements. Marxists argue that the US-China trade war is just one of the conflicts arising from the global capitalist system, and through this war, the employment rate in the US cannot be sustainably increased