A significant amount of research has been conducted on the United States’ reason for war with Iraq, through different lenses and theoretical frameworks. At the same time, studies have been conducted on China’s claim on Taiwan and the ongoing situation in the Taiwan Strait. However, no direct comparison has been made on the statements made by government officials on these two cases.
This two-part-study aims to understand the reasons of the 2003 Iraq war through a realist viewpoint by conducting an analysis of President George W. Bush’s speeches and statements. Likewise, an analysis from a realist point of view will be conducted on statements made by Chinese government officials regarding Taiwan. The findings will then be compared to see if there are any similarities or differences between the two states.
The results show a difference, where one nation emphasizes security and international anarchy, while the other focuses on appearing like a rational actor responding to injustice and provocations.