The United States and the People's Republic of China maintain a unique relationship due to the high levels of interdependence between the countries' political, economic, military, and social functions. This association has been complicated in the past by Chinese industrial cyberespionage (CE) carried out against United States organizations and individuals in pursuit of economic advancement. This paper examines the nature of Chinese-American relations and determines whether its features adhere to Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye's theory of complex interdependence in Power and Interdependence. Further, this paper also explores possible reasons for a decline in Chinese CE beginning in mid-2014 and what impact this could have on the two countries' relations moving forward. / Master of Arts / The purpose of this thesis is to examine whether the United States and China have become interdependent through political, economic, military, and social means. Additionally, China has historically spied on and stolen United States’ secrets electronically for their own benefit. This trend began to slow down in mid-2014 and I offer several possible explanations for why this might have happened. Lastly, I conclude by seeing how this decline in Chinese spying reflects on the interdependent relationship between China and the United States.

China and India, demographically being the two largest countries in the world, are together accounting for more than a third of the world’s total population. This makes the Sino-Indian relationship critical not only for those living in China and India, but for the whole world. Regardless of a history filled with conflicts and a contemporary competition over regional influence have the two Asian powers managed to increasingly deepen their economic ties. Even though the relationship seems to be moving in a more peaceful direction of mutual understanding and cooperation, it is still a very fragile relationship. The focus of this research lies in the contemporary Sino-Indian relations, which aims to understand the role trade and cooperation have had in moving the attention away from security-related issues on to more positive fields. The empirical observations that will be tested in the case of Sino-Indian relations are the border dispute at Arunachal Pradesh and the political and economic interdependence. Together these will represent the empirical foundation of the research, which will be tested and interpreted by the neo-realist and neo-liberal perspective. The concluding remarks on the research is that trade and cooperation unlikely is the main factor in the Sino-Indian relationship, preventing or reducing attention from being given to security-related issues, but should rather be seen as the foundational source on which a process towards confidence-building measures, institutions, mutual interests and a political goodwill has been established.

A expansão do mercado global de bioenergia é tida como uma alternativa promissora para alguns países, especialmente os potenciais produtores e fornecedores de matéria-prima, como é o caso do Brasil. A inserção do etanol na matriz energética de diferentes países produtores e consumidores será um fenômeno complexo com diferentes tipos de relações de interdependência. Este trabalho visa analisar as relações internacionais de interdependência entre Brasil e outros países produtores e consumidores - reais ou potenciais - do biocombustível etanol e as suas implicações sobre a cadeia produtiva de etanol no Brasil. Para estudar esse processo de interdependência nas relações internacionais, este trabalho explora a Teoria da Interdependência Complexa proposta por Robert Keohane e Joseph Samuel Nye Junior (2001) e a Teoria dos Jogos de John Von Neumann e Oskar Morgenstern (1944). Foi realizada uma pesquisa quali-quantitativa, por meio da análise documental com a utilização do software QDA Miner® e da aplicação de dois questionários. Para a análise documental, foram usados 101 documentos classificados como atos internacionais do setor de biocombustíveis e etanol entre os anos de 2002 e 2011, presentes nas bases de dados do governo brasileiro. O primeiro questionário, respondido por 46 mestres e doutores que trabalham ou realizam pesquisas nas áreas de etanol, agronegócios e/ou relações internacionais, buscou identificar as palavras-chave que se relacionam com as dimensões políticas, econômicas, socioambientais e técnicas no setor de etanol. O segundo questionário, respondido por 21 representantes das partes interessadas da cadeia produtiva do etanol brasileiro, visou analisar, através da lógica da teoria dos jogos, o comportamento estratégico dos atores, em uma condição de interação estratégica. A análise dos resultados demonstra que os principais atores das relações de interdependência com o Brasil no setor de etanol são Estados Unidos com um grau de interdependência alto, a Europa com um grau de interdependência médio e a China com um grau de interdependência muito baixo. As dimensões com maior desempenho nas relações de interdependência, tanto do ponto de vista dos atos internacionais como das partes interessadas, foram a dimensão política, a dimensão econômica, seguida pela dimensão técnica e socioambiental. Assim, considera-se que o comportamento estratégico observado nas relações de interdependência demonstrou que nas relações entre Brasil e Estados Unidos, o Brasil tende a ganhar pouco enquanto que os Estados Unidos tende a ganhar muito. Nas relações entre Brasil e Europa, o Brasil tende a perder muito enquanto que a Europa tende a ganhar muito, e nas relações entre Brasil e China, o Brasil tende a ganhar pouco enquanto que a China não perde nem ganha. Portanto, indiferente da interdependência existente nas relações entre os atores, sejam produtores e consumidores reais ou potenciais, todos devem buscar forças para o fortalecimento do setor, uma vez que todo o sistema global estará se beneficiando, tanto no âmbito político, econômico, socioambiental ou técnico. Esforços tecnológicos para ganhos de eficiência voltados para o crescimento sustentável da produção, criação de políticas setoriais, que ofereçam segurança e infraestrutura para a sua produção, redução de tarifas que incidem sobre o produto em todo o mundo, transformação do etanol em uma commodity global com grande número de países comprando e vendendo esse produto são algumas das ações que poderão fazer com que o etanol assuma uma posição cada vez mais estratégica na diversificação da matriz energética mundial. / The expansion of the global bioenergy market is regarded as a promising alternative for some countries, especially the potential producers and suppliers of raw materials, as in the case of Brazil. The insertion of ethanol in the energy matrix from different countries producers and consumers will be a complex phenomenon with different types of interdependent relations. This paper aims to analyze the international relations of interdependence among Brazil and other countries producers and consumers – real or potential – of the ethanol biofuel and their implications on the productive chain of this fuel in Brazil. To study this process of interdependence in international relations, this work explores the Theory of Complex Interdependence proposed by Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye Samuel Junior (2001) and the Game Theory of John Von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern (1944). It was performed a quali-quantitative, research through a documentary analysis with the use of QDA Miner ® software and the application of two questionnaires. For the document analysis, 101 classified documents were used, as international acts of biofuels and ethanol among 2002 and 2011, present in the databases of the Brazilian government. The first questionnaire, answered by 46 teachers and doctors who work or conduct research in ethanol, agribusiness and/or international relations areas, intended to identify the keywords related to the political, economic, social and environmental dimensions and techniques in the ethanol sector. The second questionnaire, answered by 21 representatives of stakeholders in the productive chain of Brazilian ethanol, aimed to analyze, through the logic of the Game Theory, the strategic behavior of actors in a condition of strategic interaction. The analysis of the results shows that the main actors of the interdependent relations with Brazil in the ethanol sector are The United States, with a high degree of interdependence, Europe with an average degree of interdependence and China with a low degree of interdependence. The dimensions with higher performance in relations of interdependence, both from the point of view of international acts as stakeholders, were the political and economic dimensions, followed by technical and socio-environmental dimensions. Thus, it is considered that the strategic behavior observed in relations of interdependence demonstrated that in relations between Brazil and United States, Brazil tends to earn a little, while the United States tends to earn a lot. Relations between Brazil and Europe show that Brazil tends to lose a lot, while Europe tends to earn a lot, and in relations between Brazil and China, Brazil tends to earn a little, while China neither lose nor earn. Therefore, regardless of existing interdependence in relations among the actors, whether real or potential producers and consumers, all the countries should work together to strengthen the industry, since the entire global system will be benefiting, both in the political, economic, social or technical sectors. Technological efforts for efficiency gains related to the sustainable growth of production, creation of sectoral policies, which offer security and infrastructure for its production, reduction of tariffs on the product in all over the world, transformation of ethanol into a global commodity with a large number of countries buying and selling this product are some of the actions that could make ethanol takes an increasingly strategic position on the diversification in the energy matrix.

A expansão do mercado global de bioenergia é tida como uma alternativa promissora para alguns países, especialmente os potenciais produtores e fornecedores de matéria-prima, como é o caso do Brasil. A inserção do etanol na matriz energética de diferentes países produtores e consumidores será um fenômeno complexo com diferentes tipos de relações de interdependência. Este trabalho visa analisar as relações internacionais de interdependência entre Brasil e outros países produtores e consumidores - reais ou potenciais - do biocombustível etanol e as suas implicações sobre a cadeia produtiva de etanol no Brasil. Para estudar esse processo de interdependência nas relações internacionais, este trabalho explora a Teoria da Interdependência Complexa proposta por Robert Keohane e Joseph Samuel Nye Junior (2001) e a Teoria dos Jogos de John Von Neumann e Oskar Morgenstern (1944). Foi realizada uma pesquisa quali-quantitativa, por meio da análise documental com a utilização do software QDA Miner® e da aplicação de dois questionários. Para a análise documental, foram usados 101 documentos classificados como atos internacionais do setor de biocombustíveis e etanol entre os anos de 2002 e 2011, presentes nas bases de dados do governo brasileiro. O primeiro questionário, respondido por 46 mestres e doutores que trabalham ou realizam pesquisas nas áreas de etanol, agronegócios e/ou relações internacionais, buscou identificar as palavras-chave que se relacionam com as dimensões políticas, econômicas, socioambientais e técnicas no setor de etanol. O segundo questionário, respondido por 21 representantes das partes interessadas da cadeia produtiva do etanol brasileiro, visou analisar, através da lógica da teoria dos jogos, o comportamento estratégico dos atores, em uma condição de interação estratégica. A análise dos resultados demonstra que os principais atores das relações de interdependência com o Brasil no setor de etanol são Estados Unidos com um grau de interdependência alto, a Europa com um grau de interdependência médio e a China com um grau de interdependência muito baixo. As dimensões com maior desempenho nas relações de interdependência, tanto do ponto de vista dos atos internacionais como das partes interessadas, foram a dimensão política, a dimensão econômica, seguida pela dimensão técnica e socioambiental. Assim, considera-se que o comportamento estratégico observado nas relações de interdependência demonstrou que nas relações entre Brasil e Estados Unidos, o Brasil tende a ganhar pouco enquanto que os Estados Unidos tende a ganhar muito. Nas relações entre Brasil e Europa, o Brasil tende a perder muito enquanto que a Europa tende a ganhar muito, e nas relações entre Brasil e China, o Brasil tende a ganhar pouco enquanto que a China não perde nem ganha. Portanto, indiferente da interdependência existente nas relações entre os atores, sejam produtores e consumidores reais ou potenciais, todos devem buscar forças para o fortalecimento do setor, uma vez que todo o sistema global estará se beneficiando, tanto no âmbito político, econômico, socioambiental ou técnico. Esforços tecnológicos para ganhos de eficiência voltados para o crescimento sustentável da produção, criação de políticas setoriais, que ofereçam segurança e infraestrutura para a sua produção, redução de tarifas que incidem sobre o produto em todo o mundo, transformação do etanol em uma commodity global com grande número de países comprando e vendendo esse produto são algumas das ações que poderão fazer com que o etanol assuma uma posição cada vez mais estratégica na diversificação da matriz energética mundial. / The expansion of the global bioenergy market is regarded as a promising alternative for some countries, especially the potential producers and suppliers of raw materials, as in the case of Brazil. The insertion of ethanol in the energy matrix from different countries producers and consumers will be a complex phenomenon with different types of interdependent relations. This paper aims to analyze the international relations of interdependence among Brazil and other countries producers and consumers – real or potential – of the ethanol biofuel and their implications on the productive chain of this fuel in Brazil. To study this process of interdependence in international relations, this work explores the Theory of Complex Interdependence proposed by Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye Samuel Junior (2001) and the Game Theory of John Von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern (1944). It was performed a quali-quantitative, research through a documentary analysis with the use of QDA Miner ® software and the application of two questionnaires. For the document analysis, 101 classified documents were used, as international acts of biofuels and ethanol among 2002 and 2011, present in the databases of the Brazilian government. The first questionnaire, answered by 46 teachers and doctors who work or conduct research in ethanol, agribusiness and/or international relations areas, intended to identify the keywords related to the political, economic, social and environmental dimensions and techniques in the ethanol sector. The second questionnaire, answered by 21 representatives of stakeholders in the productive chain of Brazilian ethanol, aimed to analyze, through the logic of the Game Theory, the strategic behavior of actors in a condition of strategic interaction. The analysis of the results shows that the main actors of the interdependent relations with Brazil in the ethanol sector are The United States, with a high degree of interdependence, Europe with an average degree of interdependence and China with a low degree of interdependence. The dimensions with higher performance in relations of interdependence, both from the point of view of international acts as stakeholders, were the political and economic dimensions, followed by technical and socio-environmental dimensions. Thus, it is considered that the strategic behavior observed in relations of interdependence demonstrated that in relations between Brazil and United States, Brazil tends to earn a little, while the United States tends to earn a lot. Relations between Brazil and Europe show that Brazil tends to lose a lot, while Europe tends to earn a lot, and in relations between Brazil and China, Brazil tends to earn a little, while China neither lose nor earn. Therefore, regardless of existing interdependence in relations among the actors, whether real or potential producers and consumers, all the countries should work together to strengthen the industry, since the entire global system will be benefiting, both in the political, economic, social or technical sectors. Technological efforts for efficiency gains related to the sustainable growth of production, creation of sectoral policies, which offer security and infrastructure for its production, reduction of tariffs on the product in all over the world, transformation of ethanol into a global commodity with a large number of countries buying and selling this product are some of the actions that could make ethanol takes an increasingly strategic position on the diversification in the energy matrix.

A expansão do mercado global de bioenergia é tida como uma alternativa promissora para alguns países, especialmente os potenciais produtores e fornecedores de matéria-prima, como é o caso do Brasil. A inserção do etanol na matriz energética de diferentes países produtores e consumidores será um fenômeno complexo com diferentes tipos de relações de interdependência. Este trabalho visa analisar as relações internacionais de interdependência entre Brasil e outros países produtores e consumidores - reais ou potenciais - do biocombustível etanol e as suas implicações sobre a cadeia produtiva de etanol no Brasil. Para estudar esse processo de interdependência nas relações internacionais, este trabalho explora a Teoria da Interdependência Complexa proposta por Robert Keohane e Joseph Samuel Nye Junior (2001) e a Teoria dos Jogos de John Von Neumann e Oskar Morgenstern (1944). Foi realizada uma pesquisa quali-quantitativa, por meio da análise documental com a utilização do software QDA Miner® e da aplicação de dois questionários. Para a análise documental, foram usados 101 documentos classificados como atos internacionais do setor de biocombustíveis e etanol entre os anos de 2002 e 2011, presentes nas bases de dados do governo brasileiro. O primeiro questionário, respondido por 46 mestres e doutores que trabalham ou realizam pesquisas nas áreas de etanol, agronegócios e/ou relações internacionais, buscou identificar as palavras-chave que se relacionam com as dimensões políticas, econômicas, socioambientais e técnicas no setor de etanol. O segundo questionário, respondido por 21 representantes das partes interessadas da cadeia produtiva do etanol brasileiro, visou analisar, através da lógica da teoria dos jogos, o comportamento estratégico dos atores, em uma condição de interação estratégica. A análise dos resultados demonstra que os principais atores das relações de interdependência com o Brasil no setor de etanol são Estados Unidos com um grau de interdependência alto, a Europa com um grau de interdependência médio e a China com um grau de interdependência muito baixo. As dimensões com maior desempenho nas relações de interdependência, tanto do ponto de vista dos atos internacionais como das partes interessadas, foram a dimensão política, a dimensão econômica, seguida pela dimensão técnica e socioambiental. Assim, considera-se que o comportamento estratégico observado nas relações de interdependência demonstrou que nas relações entre Brasil e Estados Unidos, o Brasil tende a ganhar pouco enquanto que os Estados Unidos tende a ganhar muito. Nas relações entre Brasil e Europa, o Brasil tende a perder muito enquanto que a Europa tende a ganhar muito, e nas relações entre Brasil e China, o Brasil tende a ganhar pouco enquanto que a China não perde nem ganha. Portanto, indiferente da interdependência existente nas relações entre os atores, sejam produtores e consumidores reais ou potenciais, todos devem buscar forças para o fortalecimento do setor, uma vez que todo o sistema global estará se beneficiando, tanto no âmbito político, econômico, socioambiental ou técnico. Esforços tecnológicos para ganhos de eficiência voltados para o crescimento sustentável da produção, criação de políticas setoriais, que ofereçam segurança e infraestrutura para a sua produção, redução de tarifas que incidem sobre o produto em todo o mundo, transformação do etanol em uma commodity global com grande número de países comprando e vendendo esse produto são algumas das ações que poderão fazer com que o etanol assuma uma posição cada vez mais estratégica na diversificação da matriz energética mundial. / The expansion of the global bioenergy market is regarded as a promising alternative for some countries, especially the potential producers and suppliers of raw materials, as in the case of Brazil. The insertion of ethanol in the energy matrix from different countries producers and consumers will be a complex phenomenon with different types of interdependent relations. This paper aims to analyze the international relations of interdependence among Brazil and other countries producers and consumers – real or potential – of the ethanol biofuel and their implications on the productive chain of this fuel in Brazil. To study this process of interdependence in international relations, this work explores the Theory of Complex Interdependence proposed by Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye Samuel Junior (2001) and the Game Theory of John Von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern (1944). It was performed a quali-quantitative, research through a documentary analysis with the use of QDA Miner ® software and the application of two questionnaires. For the document analysis, 101 classified documents were used, as international acts of biofuels and ethanol among 2002 and 2011, present in the databases of the Brazilian government. The first questionnaire, answered by 46 teachers and doctors who work or conduct research in ethanol, agribusiness and/or international relations areas, intended to identify the keywords related to the political, economic, social and environmental dimensions and techniques in the ethanol sector. The second questionnaire, answered by 21 representatives of stakeholders in the productive chain of Brazilian ethanol, aimed to analyze, through the logic of the Game Theory, the strategic behavior of actors in a condition of strategic interaction. The analysis of the results shows that the main actors of the interdependent relations with Brazil in the ethanol sector are The United States, with a high degree of interdependence, Europe with an average degree of interdependence and China with a low degree of interdependence. The dimensions with higher performance in relations of interdependence, both from the point of view of international acts as stakeholders, were the political and economic dimensions, followed by technical and socio-environmental dimensions. Thus, it is considered that the strategic behavior observed in relations of interdependence demonstrated that in relations between Brazil and United States, Brazil tends to earn a little, while the United States tends to earn a lot. Relations between Brazil and Europe show that Brazil tends to lose a lot, while Europe tends to earn a lot, and in relations between Brazil and China, Brazil tends to earn a little, while China neither lose nor earn. Therefore, regardless of existing interdependence in relations among the actors, whether real or potential producers and consumers, all the countries should work together to strengthen the industry, since the entire global system will be benefiting, both in the political, economic, social or technical sectors. Technological efforts for efficiency gains related to the sustainable growth of production, creation of sectoral policies, which offer security and infrastructure for its production, reduction of tariffs on the product in all over the world, transformation of ethanol into a global commodity with a large number of countries buying and selling this product are some of the actions that could make ethanol takes an increasingly strategic position on the diversification in the energy matrix.

How the EU frames Russia before and after the Crimean annexation betters our understanding of the motives and incentives behind a securitized unanimity in EU energy policy and decarbonization given previous internal dissensus. Europe’s energy transition and security policy is contingent upon Russian relations, considering its gas dependency. Given the 2022 Ukrainian invasion, studying past rhetorical change instigated within the EU is relevant, using the 2014 annexation as a potential catalyst. Russian energy flows reaching the EU are decreasingly predictable since they pass through key transit states like Ukraine. An overview of recent EU-Russian normative trajectories becomes appropriate as the EU tackles an energy crisis and is interconnected with an unreliable energy provider. Complex interdependence is used to explain the EU’s framing of Russia in energy relations, where mutual dependence, vulnerability and sensitivity to policy change define the states’ well-being, as postulated by Keohane and Nye. Marco Siddi’s conflict-cooperation dichotomy on the Russian Other supplements the framing analysis. An abductive coding approach forms the methodology, where the chosen material may inform the codes, alongside conceptual themes generated beforehand. The frames are applied to EU-parliamentary policy briefings, commission frameworks and bilateral EU-Russian roadmaps spanning between 2011-2016 with three yielded frames: ‘Commercial ties and sunk costs’, ‘Jeopardized security order’, and ‘Fossil-bound authoritarianism’. These frames are divided into pre-and post-annexation sections. The outcome points to attitude shifts in the EU, from perceiving Russia as a Cooperative Other to an Antagonistic Other. This manifests itself within energy security realms and partly in decarbonization. All three frames imply an EU-Russian bilateral relationship entrenched with sunk costs and commitments—with ideological rifts widening in energy security where the EU frames Russia as a normative and contractual violator. The changed framing of Russia may thus help explain how EU energy policy experienced recent change.

The purpose of the thesis is to look into the Arctic region and the relationship that the economic potential of the region has with the growing tension. The research question of the thesis is ‘what impact can the economic potential of the Arctic region have on avoiding conflict?’. The thesis uses the theoretical framework of Complex Interdependence as the base for Arctic state behavior and dependency. The used methods are content analysis for all eight Arctic state regions policy papers and after that case study of a smaller group of states. The thesis highlights, firstly, that Arctic states are deeply interdependent, which make the possibility of conflict unlikely. Secondly, the analysis showed that only two states prioritize the economic potential of the region in their policy papers. Therefore, while conflict is not inevitable, the priority interest areas of each Arctic region state show that cooperation is more beneficial for all involved sides and the economic potential is not the catalyst for military conflict in the region.

This study analyzes recent developments in U. S.- Iranian relations during the Nixon administration and attempts to portray the principal objectives of the United States and Iran vis-a-vis each other. Complex Interdependence is the model for development of the arguments. Due to the circumstances, however, the study substantially draws on Realism as well. Chapter I discusses methodology. Chapter II focuses on the Nixon Doctrine and its impact on U. S.-Iranian relations. Chapter III discusses the evolution of mutual interests between the two nations in the Gulf area. Chapter IV drawing on the previous chapters, concludes that an interdependent relation between the two nations has developed to the extent that in some areas policy of one nation would have an impact on the other, i.e., increase in the price of oil.

<p>In the post Cold-War era, world politics was transforming itself through its emerging complex issues such as terrorism and influential and interdependent actors such as the European Union. In this new era, the European Union was developing its Common Foreign and Security Policy pillar both to present a coherent and unified EU policy and to prove its political potent in order to become an influential actor on world politics. On the other side, security environment was also transforming its content through emerging actors and issues. As one of the most prominent actors of the world politics, the EU was influenced by the transformation of security environment, whose economic ‘soft power’ proved necessary but insufficient for being a global power in this emerging security environment. Insufficiency of economic power in solving security problems became more visible with the terrorist attacks of September 11 and March 11 which proved the seriousness of a globalized security threat posed by terrorism. After the events took place, the EU’s security approach and threat assessment have been transformed in which the issue of terrorism occupied more profound place by ‘securitization’ of its context. The Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU began to play more prominent role on EU policies together with incorporating the efforts on the issue of fight against terrorism both to EU’s external relations and to its security dimension. Therefore, in this study, the author analyzes the research question of the development of the CFSP of the EU together with the impact of the issue of terrorism in this transforming security environment. Since examination of such a complex security issue necessitates multidimensional approach, then liberal and realist theories are used as complementary analytical instruments guiding the theoretical framework of the study.</p>

In the post Cold-War era, world politics was transforming itself through its emerging complex issues such as terrorism and influential and interdependent actors such as the European Union. In this new era, the European Union was developing its Common Foreign and Security Policy pillar both to present a coherent and unified EU policy and to prove its political potent in order to become an influential actor on world politics. On the other side, security environment was also transforming its content through emerging actors and issues. As one of the most prominent actors of the world politics, the EU was influenced by the transformation of security environment, whose economic ‘soft power’ proved necessary but insufficient for being a global power in this emerging security environment. Insufficiency of economic power in solving security problems became more visible with the terrorist attacks of September 11 and March 11 which proved the seriousness of a globalized security threat posed by terrorism. After the events took place, the EU’s security approach and threat assessment have been transformed in which the issue of terrorism occupied more profound place by ‘securitization’ of its context. The Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU began to play more prominent role on EU policies together with incorporating the efforts on the issue of fight against terrorism both to EU’s external relations and to its security dimension. Therefore, in this study, the author analyzes the research question of the development of the CFSP of the EU together with the impact of the issue of terrorism in this transforming security environment. Since examination of such a complex security issue necessitates multidimensional approach, then liberal and realist theories are used as complementary analytical instruments guiding the theoretical framework of the study.