The American Tributary System Revisited

Abstract This article revisits my essay on the American Tributary System (ATS), published by the Chinese Journal of International Politics (CJIP) in 2013. In that essay, I argued that the United States (US) resembled Ming and Qing China in important and interesting ways in the conduct of its foreign relations. I portrayed the US as the hub of a Chinese-like tributary system, and identified two tributes that it sought, in return for its global exertions: first, to be recognized as the number one power in the world; and second, to have others adopt its political ideas and forms (i.e. liberal democracy). More than a decade has passed, America has changed; so, has China, not to mention the power distribution in Asia. Given these changes—especially the rise of Trump and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) base—it is timely to revisit my thesis for this special issue of the CJIP. This article argues that the ATS is waning; it is deeply contested from within and without. From without, China’s rise and its closing in on the US in comprehensive power terms have ended the era of unipolarity. Together with countries such as North Korea, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa, China is challenging American hegemony and leadership in Asia and beyond. Recognition of, and assent to, US hegemony—the first tribute demanded by the US—are thus harder to come by. Even more damaging to the ATS is what is happening within: a deeply divided US, characterized by internecine warfare between Republicans and Democrats and democratic backsliding verging on autocratic rule under Trump 2.0, have severely dented the “City on the Hill” image of America. Given the state of American democracy and the political dysfunction associated with it, even if Trump had wanted to promote democracy abroad, it will be a difficult sell.