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Maktspel och handelskrig: En kritisk prövning av hotbalansteorin i Trumps handelspolitik gentemot Kina

Örtqvist, Ellen LU and Röman, Anja LU (2025) STVA23 20251
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This essay presents a theory-testing case study of the tariffs imposed during Liberation Day, within the broader context of the ongoing trade war between the United States and China. The study examines how the balance of threat theory can explain Donald Trump’ s decision to impose tariffs on April 2, 2025, in relation to the United States’ geopolitical power position and China’ s growing influence. This is analyzed through four central components of the balance of threat theory: aggregate power, proximity, offensive power, and offensive intentions. To provide a counterpoint to this theory, alternative explanations such as economic factors, industrial capacity, and employment creation are also explored. The findings of this
study suggest... (More)
This essay presents a theory-testing case study of the tariffs imposed during Liberation Day, within the broader context of the ongoing trade war between the United States and China. The study examines how the balance of threat theory can explain Donald Trump’ s decision to impose tariffs on April 2, 2025, in relation to the United States’ geopolitical power position and China’ s growing influence. This is analyzed through four central components of the balance of threat theory: aggregate power, proximity, offensive power, and offensive intentions. To provide a counterpoint to this theory, alternative explanations such as economic factors, industrial capacity, and employment creation are also explored. The findings of this
study suggest that while balance of threat theory offers relatively substantial explanatory value in the studied case, it additionally requires complementary explanations to fully shed light on all the dimensions underlying the decision. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Örtqvist, Ellen LU and Röman, Anja LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVA23 20251
year
type
L2 - 2nd term paper (old degree order)
subject
keywords
USA, China, trade war, tariffs, balance of threat theory, balance of power.
language
Swedish
id
9190043
date added to LUP
2025-08-07 17:02:28
date last changed
2025-08-07 17:02:28
@misc{9190043,
  abstract     = {{This essay presents a theory-testing case study of the tariffs imposed during Liberation Day, within the broader context of the ongoing trade war between the United States and China. The study examines how the balance of threat theory can explain Donald Trump’ s decision to impose tariffs on April 2, 2025, in relation to the United States’ geopolitical power position and China’ s growing influence. This is analyzed through four central components of the balance of threat theory: aggregate power, proximity, offensive power, and offensive intentions. To provide a counterpoint to this theory, alternative explanations such as economic factors, industrial capacity, and employment creation are also explored. The findings of this
study suggest that while balance of threat theory offers relatively substantial explanatory value in the studied case, it additionally requires complementary explanations to fully shed light on all the dimensions underlying the decision.}},
  author       = {{Örtqvist, Ellen and Röman, Anja}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Maktspel och handelskrig: En kritisk prövning av hotbalansteorin i Trumps handelspolitik gentemot Kina}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}