Seeking 'legitimate' great power status in post-cold war international society: China's and Japan's participation in UNPKO

This article joins the debates on hierarchies in international society. Drawing on the insights of the English School approach, it shows that the existence of socially legitimated great powers results in the emergence of 'frustrated great powers', which are dissatisfied with their status in international society. By examining the participation of China and Japan in United Nations peacekeeping operations, it argues that 'frustrated great powers' can play 'recognition games' and attempt to persuade their peers that they are worthy of 'legitimate great power' status. Rather than posing a threat to the international order, as is often assumed, I show that 'frustrated great powers' can inadvertently strengthen the normative structures of international society by invoking the social discourses that surround 'legitimate great power' status. The findings of this article also demonstrate that we need to pay greater attention to the 'intentions of 'frustrated great powers', and put forward an alternative framework for examining these states. © 2008 Sage Publications.