Modeling Bilateral International Relations

Drawing on political choice theories in IR and policy decision making, this book provides a deep theoretical understanding of bilateral co-operation and confrontation. Through conceptual modelling and quantitative data analysis, Liu examines how changes in political and economic issues affected relations between China and the United States.

"In a bold and innovative move, Xinsheng Liu has applied thinking from modern cognitive decision theory to a game theoretic framework, and applied this new framework to interactions between nations. This book should be read by decision theorists, international relations specialists, and those interested in the particulars of China-US relations. It has the potential to make a major impact on all three fields."

- Bryan D. Jones, Director, Center for American Politics and Public Policy, University of Washington, Seattle

"I highly recommend this book to those with interests in foreign policy decision making and U.S.-China relations. Its keen theoretical insights are valuable well beyond the domain of bilateral interactions in world politics. The spatial supergame model developed by Xinsheng Liu can be used to analyze many social and political interactions."

- Puqu Wang, Professor and Executive Dean, School of Government, Peking University

"Dr.Xinsheng Liu is a creative scholar. He is successful in bringing together the rational choice perspective and the cognitive aspects of bilateral international relations. The spatial supergame framework constructed in the book is a powerful tool to understand the logic of the bilateral interactions between the United States and China. This book deserves attention of scholars, policy analysts, and students interested in great-power relations in today's world systems."

- Yong Wang, Associate Professor, School of International Studies, Peking University

XINSHENG LIU is a Research Scientist of the Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy, Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, USA, and an Assistant Professor of the School of Government at Peking University, China.