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Academic Synthesis Essay

Joshua J. Santos
University of Arizona
POL 695A: Professional Colloquium
Professor Paulette Kurzer
April 9th, 2023
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The Building Blocks

The Master of Arts in International Security Studies from the University of Arizona was

unique in that it allowed you to choose a predetermined path or create your path as you walked

down your academic journey. Most of the classes could be connected in some way, even if it was

not part of the overall learning objectives of the course. For my path, I focused on China's

emergence and the American order's displacement to this rise. I could bring this objective into

the lessons learned in almost every class.

The first class I took as part of the Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) during

undergraduate studies was International Relations of East Asia. This focus was perfect for my

educational interest as it contained much about China, its century of humiliation, and its

determination to become the regional hegemony in Asia while challenging American influence

worldwide. Furthermore, it dove into the current tensions throughout the South China Sea and

the West Philippine Sea regarding the nine-dash line map used by China to exert its influence or

desires in the region. Looking around various news reporting, anyone can see this area becoming

a possible flashpoint as the Philippines pushes back in the Spratly Islands and the United States

tightens its partnership with regional allies. Additionally, China looking to retain a ‘whole’

China means it has Taiwan in its sights. The United States is leaning ever closer to defending

Taiwan by any means necessary.

Following this was Professor Beznosov’s Emerging Powers in a Global System course,

where I latched on to the Power Transition Theory and saw it panning out in the system today. In

this class, it gave credit to China, Russia, and India as rising powers. However, this was just

before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But China rising as a global power and understanding

how the rise was happening and the possible outcomes of this rise fit the academic path I wanted
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to follow. Additionally, during this class, I listened to a lecture from Professor Beznosov about

the different indexes and political theories that showed the placement of a nation in the world

order, whether that was as a rising power or a regional power that looked to attach itself to a

more considerable power for effective means. These lessons got me thinking that there doesn’t

seem to be one that incorporates technology and innovation alongside the already staples of

military and economic power, among others. One day I hope to dive into this and figure out how

to measure that type of power, as it is crucial to a country’s standing in this century. If I can

provide something new to political theory, it will be due to a lecture from this emerging powers

course.

This power transition theory would remain at the front of my academic journey as I

began the Armed Conflict course where the Russian and Ukrainian war had started, so the course

was very prevalent to what was happening in the world. Again, I decided to use the lessons

learned in this course about armed conflict to take an approach of avoiding it altogether. One of

the results of the power transition theory is not the thought of conflict happening, but instead,

when it will happen. With this, I thought the best approach to armed conflict is to be prepared for

it but avoid it altogether. But is it avoidable? This branched off into some research where I found

out about Thucydides Trap, and that war is avoidable, but it takes much work for both sides,

usually understanding of each other’s ways. Unfortunately, this does not fit the mold of Chinese

and American cultures. Therefore, the best approach to avoiding armed conflict is through a

deterrence policy in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea to contain a rising China

and make it difficult to expand their military capabilities.

A large part of deterrence took place in the Geospatial Intelligence course, where the

capabilities of geospatial intelligence proved to be a large part of containing China or

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maintaining a watchful eye on them in the West Philippine Sea. Techniques include full motion

video and satellite imagery to secure the interest of the partners of the United States in the

region. Some of these techniques could involve sensitive reconnaissance operations (SRO)

threading the line of international law and Chinese “territory” in the Spratly Islands. Think of the

Spratly Islands region as a Hawaii, controlling the area allows for access to open waters in the

Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean allowing for a green-water navy to become a blue-water

navy and exert its dominance in other places while maintaining a logistical haven much like the

United States uses Hawaii. Additionally, the region sees one-third of the global shipping trade

and has a vast amount of energy below the waters (ChinaPower CSIS, 2021). Furthermore, the

geospatial techniques allow for deterrence against Chinese aggression in the region by watching

the Chinese Coast Guard and the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia.

The Spratly Islands region brings me to the course on International Law and

Organizations. The theme in this class was understanding the various international laws and

organizations that help the world move from day to day while keeping a check and balance

system around the world to ensure countries do not overreach. Additionally, another theme of

this course was though these organizations are set up to help maintain order in the world, the

United States is given many decisions that are favorable toward them, but it is somewhat

expected as they invest heavily into these organizations but are also a great power. This

favoritism may be unfair, but the unipolar system of the world since the downfall of the Soviet

Union has seen a very peaceful time in the world pertaining to conflict. But this dominance of

American decisions has also led to nations such as Russia and China growing tired of the status

quo and looking to displace the current world order. And China has reached a point where they

openly challenge this order. Additionally, one thing that the United States must do to maintain
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this order is to accept decisions made by these international organizations and look to help the

international court's decisions to be followed. An example that fits the path I chose to follow

with this program is the arbitration decision by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the

Sea (UNCLOS) Bulletin 91 verifying the Philippines' argument about their ownership in the

Spratly Islands (United Nations, 2017). China has ignored this decision, and they are looking to

take more territory in the West Philippine Sea. In this case, a possible way to back up the court’s

decision would be through deterrence by conducting Freedom of Navigation Operations

(FONOPs) to check China within the bounds of international law and the determination of the

ruling.

Flashpoints are possible areas where conflict could become a reality. Between China and

the United States, these could be over Taiwan or protecting interests in the Spratly Islands

region. Another region where a flashpoint is slowly emerging is Central Asia, where a New

Great Game is beginning, as discussed in both courses, Politics and Security in Central Asia and

Politics of Energy Security. With Politics and Security in Central Asia, the theme was

predominantly with energy inefficiencies throughout the entire region and widespread

corruption, which has caused a lack of regionalism in the Central Asian region. However, it is

essential to understand that the region has a hybrid style of authoritarian governments. This may

translate to give and take to implement them in any partnership. Following the theme, I had tried

to follow, China has realized this way of dealing with Central Asia, and it has been beneficial to

their standing in the region as they receive much-needed energy, a pass-through for their Belt

and Road Initiative (BRI), and it allows for their sphere of influence.

The Politics of Energy Security course showcased the heavy importance of energy to

nations and the depths to which they will go to protect those interests or use them to demonstrate
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their power. Additionally, it discussed the ever-changing technologies that make obtaining

energy resources a reality and the new places where energy may be tapped into, such as the

Arctic. Furthermore, energy security is an up-and-down affair in Europe, and one Europe wants

the United States to stay out of. Energy security flashpoints are prevalent in the world, and this

holds in Central Asia, where a great power competition is happening, but also in the Arctic,

where the United States and Russia will heavily protect their interests, and China is looking to

invest in the region to have a hand at being a part of what unfolds. In the past, energy concerns or

energy advancements have aided in the cause of armed conflicts. Examples of this are Japan

attacking the United States in 1941 and between Great Britain and Germany before World War I

with the arrival of the dreadnaughts.

The final course I would like to include in this course is Russian Foreign and Security

Policy. My reasoning for doing so is that one of the themes was to look at things objectively or,

at least, understand the other side of an argument, even if it was one you might disagree with.

During this course, I saw that it was difficult for many students to do this as it went against what

they had thought about the Russian government. One of the standing pillars of this course was

the Russian National Idea and their basis for pushing back against the West, as they felt that they

were never accepted. Putting this in my academic path, I took this stance when discussing China

and the United States, as it is hard to figure out the policy of the Chinese toward the rest of the

world. Part of their idea is a historical stance of China being the middle ground between Earth

which is the rest of the world, and the heavens. Again, understanding the impact of the century of

humiliation on current Chinese ideals means that one must look at foreign policy through their

lens and understand the basis for pushing back against the American world order.
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Growth

My growth during this academic journey in the Master of Arts in International Security

Studies at the University of Arizona has been expansive. I have grown to look at things from

both angles in a dispute or policy to understand its reasoning. Additionally, it has given me a

better understanding of world politics through security, which has many different layers.

Furthermore, it has piqued my curiosity to learn outside of the classroom and research deeply

into current issues as well as issues for the future.

The world is currently undergoing significant changes in the status quo of world order

which could result in armed conflict. I believe that much of the world does not truly understand

how close the world is to a significant conflict. However, it is avoidable, just as Graham Allison

discusses with the Thucydides Trap. Tools received from this program at the University of

Arizona will be vital to my future research and career path. Especially if the intent is to avoid a

conflict with an adversary that is not fully understood through their culture or foreign policy

when much of the discussion internally is masked from the world of intent.

International Securities are essential to avoid conflict, but they are also crucial in helping

policymakers win conflicts. Important to the world are the researchers, advisors, and academic

professors on giving individuals the tools to succeed in ushering in the new age of security

concepts to the world, and the University of Arizona has demonstrated that they are at the upper

echelons of displaying these teachings. A great power competition is upon us, and we will be

vital in avoiding conflict, if possible, or guiding the world leaders into successes and resolutions.

My growth in the securities arena has been nurtured and blossomed due to the University of

Arizona, where the professors have maintained a high level of education that will be used in real-

life decisions.
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References

Allison, G., 2017. Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?. New

York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

ChinaPower Project. (2021, January 25). How much trade transits the South China Sea?

Retrieved April 28, 2022, from https://chinapower.csis.org/much-trade-transits-south-

china-sea/

United Nations. 2017. Bulletin No. 91: Law of the Sea. Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law

of the Sea Office of Legal Affairs. New York, NY. Pp. 28-38.