Degree
BS (Social Sciences & Liberal Arts)
Faculty / School
School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS)
Department
Department of Social Sciences & Liberal Arts
Date of Award
Spring 2026
Date of Submission
2026-07-30
Advisor
Dr. Muhammad Bilal Munshi, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences
Committee
Ms. Yumna Fatima, Lecturer and Program Director, Undergraduate - SSLA
Project Type
SSLA Culminating Experience
Access Type
Restricted Access
Keywords
US-China rivalry, Pakistan, Neoclassical Realism
Abstract
This thesis examines how Pakistan has managed its position in the US-China rivalry since 2015, focusing on the domestic intervening variables that shape its foreign policy. Using Neoclassical Realism as its analytical framework, it highlights the role of four unit-level variables in filtering systemic pressures. Drawing on secondary sources, the analysis focuses on 4 key episodes that highlight how domestic dynamics have shaped Pakistan’s foreign policy choices, a factor that structural explanations would not account for. The findings show that Pakistan’s management of the rivalry reflects a cautious posture: sustaining shallow, transactional ties with Washington while cultivating deeper but unrealised ties with Beijing. This positioning has allowed Pakistan to maintain both relationships while also preventing the emergence of a durable partnership with either.
Pages
74
Recommended Citation
Amir, H. F. (2026). Navigating Rivalry: A Neoclassical Realist Analysis of Pakistan’s Responses to US-China Competition (Unpublished undergraduate project). Institute of Business Administration, Pakistan. Retrieved from https://ir.iba.edu.pk/sslace/435
The full text of this document is only accessible to authorized users.
COinS
