Double Standard Policies of Great Powers – Comparing and Contrasting China, the USA and Russia in Current International Disputes [védés előtt]

Kivonat, rövid leírás

Although double standard elements are frequently noticeable when looking at asymmetrical relations between states or even symmetrical ones (take two great powers, for instance), their existence is not as well-processed by researchers as many other typical behaviors projected by great powers. Double standards and accusations related to double standards are often overlooked or fully ignored. In some cases that is because applying double standards appear to be such a natural sort of conduct by a bigger, more powerful state towards a weaker, lesser one that there does not seem to be a „remedy” for it. In other cases, double standards are identified, strongly criticized, deemed unlawful, there are also rare events when they are brought up at legal proceedings, but their use never truly draws any negative consequence. The main purpose of my research is to thoroughly analyze the behavior of great powers which entails the application of double standards as well as the accusations towards other state actors of using them. The main subjects of the analysis are of course some powerful states on today’s stage of international relations: China, Russia and the United States of America. When looking at a phenomenon generally present in the conduct of a certain category of international actors, especially one that has not been explored deeply enough, observing case studies is the ideal way of research. The case studies chosen for this work are all recent, therefore the double standards in them have either not been identified yet, or if they have been identified, they have not been focused on in terms of studying a behavioral pattern typical of great powers.