Temporal Horizons and Strategic Decisions in U.S.China Relations

Between Instant and Infinite

By (author) Daniel Joseph Tauss

Publication date:

06 May 2015

Length of book:

260 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

ISBN-13: 9780739188279

Using an interdisciplinary social-science approach, Temporal Horizons and Strategic Decisions in US–China Relations: Between Instant and Infinite takes on the challenge of understanding the foreign policy decision process through the lens of the temporal horizon. A temporal horizon is the distance into the future a decision-maker prioritizes when evaluating outcomes and considering possibilities. By looking at a number of recent key moments of US–China relations that have immediate, short-term, long term, and far-reaching implications, the book considers which are predominant in the policy process. Looking at the role of time as a factor in the decision-making process is not new to political science, but this book attempts to break down and articulate the process by looking at a range of specific time frames. The book places special attention on future considerations in a variety of ways, combining the insights of psychology, economics, and future studies to consider political science in a new manner.

Introduction and Overview: Looking to the Horizons, East and West
Chapter One: Times and Places: An Introduction to Horizons, Their Use and Their Role in China, America, and Taiwan
Chapter Two: Vantage Points and Abounding Horizons: Analytical Insights and Interdisciplinary Connections
Chapter Three: A Narrow Course, the View None Too Clear: The Taiwan Strait Missile Crisis, 1995-6

Chapter Four: The Future, Futures, Deals, and Dividends: China’s Entry in the World Trade Organization
Conclusion: Futures’ Beginning: Concluding Thoughts

Though others have studied the importance of 'time horizon' in foreign policy making, Tauss appears to be a pioneer in introducing this concept to the study of US-China relations. The extent of a decision-maker’s time horizon can have a significant impact on policy outcomes. Depending on how far a decision-maker’s horizon extends, the temporal space ranges from instantaneous (split-second moment) to chiliastic (exceptionally long term). Many individuals are likely to use a variety of time horizons in their decision making. As Tauss confesses, 'Since the very concept of ‘time horizon’ is often not predominant in the minds of the actors, its use in the decision-making process might have to be extracted through indirect analysis rather than direct observation.' To apply time horizon to US-China relations, he selected two cases: the 1995–1996 Taiwan Strait crisis and China’s entry into the WTO, which he painstakingly studied. In the end, he deplores that there are 'difficulties in isolating the horizons from the other elements in how decisions are made, but the fact remains that horizons play a vital role' in decision making. . . .Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate, research, and professional collections.