Good Programs for IR: US-China Relations?

[IRguyinTN]

Hello anyone out there!

So I went 0 for 4 for my first cycle of graduate applications for PhD in Political Science/IR. Ugh! I thought I had a good chance based on my GRE scores (720 V, 800 Q), but I was sadly mistaken. I've read some common themes and suggestions through all the postings. Unfortunately I learned them a little too late in the process...

1. Match up your research desires with the right program

2. Establish a working relationship with faculty members prior to application

3. Craft a SOP that emphasizes academic goals, not potential gov't work

This whole process has been very helpful, however it would have been better if I actually got into my prospective schools: Harvard, Princeton, Duke or Vanderbilt (schools chosen for name recognition and location).

So my primary question is this: Do you know of any good programs in IR to research US-China Relations as we move forward into the 21st Century? I am very interested in researching this vital relationship in regards to Foreign Policy, Trade Debt, Military History, Regional Concerns (Taiwan, N. Korea, Japan), Partnership in Humanitarian Intervention, Social Policy, Political Transformation, etc. all related to how the US and China will relate over the next 30 years. I am fluent in Mandarin, love Chinese history and culture, have spent many months living and traveling throughout China, and I am deeply concerned over the many potential flash points between these two world superpowers.

I would love to have a flourishing academic career of research, teaching and writing, eventually opening doors within the Department of State to serve as a foreign policy consultant. I mentioned this in my SOP, but that might have been a mistake. Oh well... just trying to show all my cards to the admissions office, I guess.

Any suggestions for good programs to consider as I prepare for future grad applications? Thanks so much for any help you can offer!

- IRguyinTN

[polisciphd]

I think that one of your problems might be the fact that studying US-China relations is not considered International Relations in the Political Science community. Traditionally that kind of thing has been the focus of comparativists, or more specifically area specialists. However, you should be aware that at many schools, mine included, area specialists even within Comparative are become obsolete.

The two schools that come to mind that still do a lot of research on your issue of interest are UCSD and Univ. of Washington, you might want to check out their comparative programs.

[IRguyinTN]

tidefan,

Thanks for your reply. I've got a lot to think about and research before I consider the next move. You've been a great help!

[catchermiscount]

I'll second tidefan. IR has really moved away from these kinds of problems toward a more general (and often stylized) kind of science. You have two options in terms of academic degrees:

1) Go comparative, as tidefan encouraged. I think this is likely the right answer;

2) Go IPE with a second focus in comparative. If you're more interested in the China thing, then this is a less appealing option.

There are good China experts around. What I know is by no means exhaustive, but Lieberthal at Michigan is apparently quite good, as is Johnson at Harvard. You'd obviously get great IPE training at either of these departments as well. Mearsheimer at Chicago has been working on a US/China book for a while, but if certain things spring up in their department, you won't get the IPE training you'll want.

If you're interested in more applied problems, you might want to look at policy schools instead. You'd be more likely to find US/China stuff there than in political science departments. I mean, don't try and figure out a more efficient way of lying in your SoP if what you really want is a job in the Department of State. Two reasons: first, academic employers after you get your degree at, say, Duke are not going to be wowed on tenure decision day that you've delved into these issues in places other than top journals or high-end university publishers. Second, the Department of State people won't be impressed that you're highly proficient in multinomial probit and understand its advantages in terms of addressing the IIA problem in multinomial logit. Given the lingo that you're throwing around and your highly valuable skills, policy schools are likely to view you as a very attractive candidate. So, the usual suspects...Tufts, Georgetown, SAIS, KSG, Harris, etc.

Good luck!

[gradster]

Columbia might be a good fit for you, they have good China scholars but also great foreign policy people. We have students who do this kinds of work. UCSD will also be a great place for you.

However when you say " Iam very interested in researching this vital relationship in regards to Foreign Policy, Trade Debt, Military History, Regional Concerns (Taiwan, N. Korea, Japan), Partnership in Humanitarian Intervention, Social Policy, Political Transformation, etc. all related to how the US and China will relate over the next 30 years." That sounds like too many things. Figure out which one or two aspects of the US China relationship you want to focus on and that may help you narrow down whether you want to pursue this as an IR or CP scholar (probably the first you list are more IR and the later are more CP). If you do want to purse this from an IR standpoint, you may want to link it to broader questions of international cooperation, or big power politics. I also think it's ok to say your work is at the juncture of two subfields (many departments like that--like Yale).

Good luck!

[IRguyinTN]

Thank you for all your suggestions.

I did a little research and realized how clueless I was regarding the nature of IR. I assumed it was much more policy-driven, applying theoretical models to foreign policy analysis, etc... After learning more about post-positivism/social constructivism/multinomial probit/IR theory stuff - whoa! Yeah - I'm not ready to swim deep in this discipline.

My interests lie more with integrating these IR models into policy formation, considering the historic and dynamic development of how nations have related to one another (US and China in particular). As a Philosophy undergrad I spent a few years in the "realm of ideas", and I've found that I prefer researching how such theories and ideas impact society. I am interested in IR to the degree of its practical application toward negotiating peace in Gaza or Iraq or the Taiwan Strait, for example. I'd rather leave the "heavy lifting" to IR theorists who speak (and swim) in the realm of multinomial-something or otherism.

Thank you for your help. If anyone is upset that too many bozo's who are clueless about PolySci applied to grad school this year, I'll volunteer as an appropriate scapegoat. It was an emotional, fitful, disappointing process, but it proved to be a great learning opportunity through this online community. I'll be much better prepared for the next time through, thanks to your advice.

I'll be logging on regularly - but I think I'll lose my now-inappropriate "handle" of "IRguyinTN". You've helped me realize that's not really who I want to be.

Cheers! :wink:

[swr22]

USC has a longstanding speciality in this and has just endowed a new US-China Institute

[IRguyinTN]

Thanks for the USC connection... The crazy thing is that I am a USC alum. Would it be too "weird" to have my undergrad and PhD from the same school? I've heard it is not advised, but perhaps this is something to consider. Hmmm...

[swr22]

Thanks for the USC connection... The crazy thing is that I am a USC alum. Would it be too "weird" to have my undergrad and PhD from the same school? I've heard it is not advised, but perhaps this is something to consider. Hmmm...

Why not throw out an application? I'd also email Daniel Lynch and get a rapport going and ask him about whether it is helpful/unhelpful to have gone to USC as an undergrad.