Great Power Competition in International Politics: Political Economic Strategies of the USA, China and Russia

In today’s geopolitical context, the resurrection of great power competition has led the United States, China, and Russia to reconsider and rebalance their strategic approaches to international politics. This study investigates the dynamics of great power competition between the United States, China, and Russia, with an emphasis on their political-economic tactics in the modern international order. The research demonstrates how the United States maintains its dominance by a combination of military, economic, and technical advantages that far outweigh that of its competitors. In contrast, China and Russia’s interests have become more coordinated, notably through programs such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which promotes economic cooperation and geopolitical influence across Eurasia. Such a relationship presents strategic concerns for the United States, particularly in the field of military technology, where China’s breakthroughs in artificial intelligence are viewed as a direct threat to American dominance. The study investigates the consequences of this struggle for global governance and regional stability. The USA has responded to perceived Chinese and Russian influence by strengthening allies and imposing economic penalties while also striving to represent liberal democratic principles. However, the rising Sino-Russian collaboration challenges this policy, as both countries aim to reform the international order to fit their interests, undermining the liberal internationalism championed by the USA. Lastly, this approach emphasizes the complex interaction of military, economic, and diplomatic tactics that define today’s great power relations, implying that multipolarity and strategic competition will become more prominent in international politics in the future.