The U.S.-China Chip War: Using International Relations Theories to Explain the Reasons Behind Technological Decoupling

Technology has transformed the world with the help of increasing advancements in semiconductor technology. This results in countries seeking a steady supply of semiconductors globally. This thesis investigates why the United States and China have implemented a mix of technological "decoupling" policies to prioritize semiconductors. The theoretical research for this thesis utilizes international relations perspectives and concepts as a framework to examine the root causes behind these policies. By using qualitative text analysis to code sources based on international relations theories, a series of direct evidence is presented to show the causes behind these policies. Furthermore, the concepts and direct evidence under each perspective are assessed to see how well each perspective explains technological decoupling. In short, the realist theory did the best job at explaining why these policies were implemented. In addition, this thesis demonstrates how multiple perspectives link together, as well as how the historical context is crucial to understanding technological decoupling. Finally, this thesis argues for a broader international relations framework, and it highlights two newer approaches to analyze complex global issues, such as decoupling.