Coyer, Paul
(2013)
Congress, China and the Cold War: domestic politics and Sino-American rapprochement and normalisation, 1969-1980.
PhD thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science.
Abstract
The aim of this thesis is to examine the impact of the US Congress on the process of
Sino-American rapprochement and diplomatic normalisation during the period
1969-1980. Thus far, research on Sino-American rapprochement and normalisation
has focused on the role played by the Executive Branch, ignoring the role played by
Congress. This study aims to place Executive Branch actions with regard to China
policy in the context of domestic political trends and Congressional actions and
attitudes, and locates the process of Sino-American rapprochement and
normalisation in the broader context of shifting domestic attitudes toward the Cold
War. This thesis demonstrates that rapprochement would not have been possible in
the absence of dramatic domestic political changes in the United States, particularly
important shifts of perspective within Congress toward the Cold War in general and
China in particular. It traces the development of Congressional attitudes towards
China, and examines the interaction between Congress and the Executive Branch
with regard to China policy. This study argues that the interplay between the
Executive and the Legislative Branches during a decade in which Congress was
asserting its views on foreign policy is central to understanding the development of
China policy during the 1970's. One of the most effective means by which Congress
shaped China policy during the period of this study was by means of its ability to
define the political space within which the Executive Branch was able to operate
with respect to China policy. Attempts on the part of the Executive Branch to deny
Congress influence were only partially successful, and although there were limits
on Congress's ability to directly influence policy in the 1970's, this thesis
demonstrates that Congress had a much greater impact on the development of China
policy during the decade than has previously been acknowledged.
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