Thesis → Realism is sufficient to explain Qin Victory over all rivals in 221 BC

Main Events

• Establishment of the chinese empire where the state of Qin unified the chinese world
• The chinese empire would continue to rise and fall in the same territory with a functional structure similar to that of pre-turmoil period
• China’s pervasiveness in the historical system rather than the norms and practices that persisted even when China was not involved
• realist strategy allows Qin to win victory over balancing coalition
• There was essentially 500 years of transition where chinese states balance and backstab with the best of them.
• Realism recommends that when states face off their rivals, they must self-strengthen and do internal balancing. This was seen in the QI state where they coined the idea of “Rich Country, Strong Army”.
• Once they were powerful enough, realism recommends next to do external balancing (allies) This was seen where states allied the chu state (reigning one)
• But, when this wasn’t possible, you should attack their strategy, armies and alliances.

Qin Shi Huang began a militarily-driven expansionist policy. In 229 B.C., the Qin seized Zhao territory and continued until they seized all five Zhou states to create a unified Chinese empire in 221 B.C.

• With this, Qin took over the entire system

Realism

• They didn’t do it with virtue but with cunning and ruthlessness
• They also figure out how to bust balancing alliances.
• How Qin won
  • Multiple times, the states try to get all the states together
  • Point to rivals as the threat and get them to attack each other
  • Break their alliances
  • Go after Rivals One by One
  • Lying, Cheating, Bribing → following Sun Tzu strategy (subdue the enemy without fighting)
  • not virtue but cunning ruthlessness
• What they should have done: Vertical Alliance or Zhao, Wei, Han and Chu
  • States tried multiple times to ally with each other but failed to hold up
• Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC)
  • Qin Leader (Qin Shi Huangdi) unified China in 221
  • Aggressively centralizing power over the entire territory.
  • He built the Great Wall and was buried with Terra Cotta Warriors.
• implications of Qin victory
  • Balancing alliances don’t always succeed in stopping potential hegemon
  • China has a tradition of realist strategy that counsels cautiously building strength until you can win decisive victory
  • China might pursue such a strategy to become a hegemon again.