The Origins of Alliances
by Stephen M. Walt
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How are alliances made? In this book, Stephen M. Walt makes a significant contribution to this topic, surveying theories of the origins of international alliances and identifying the most important causes of security cooperation between states. In addition, he proposes a fundamental change in the present conceptions of alliance systems. Contrary to traditional balance-of-power theories, Walt shows that states form alliances not simply to balance power but in order to balance threats. Walt show more begins by outlining five general hypotheses about the causes of alliances. Drawing upon diplomatic history and a detailed study of alliance formation in the Middle East between 1955 and 1979, he demonstrates that states are more likely to join together against threats than they are to ally themselves with threatening powers. Walt also examines the impact of ideology on alliance preferences and the role of foreign aid and transnational penetration. His analysis show, however, that these motives for alignment are relatively less important. In his conclusion, he examines the implications of "balance of threat" for U.S. foreign policy. show lessTags
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Author Information
14 Works 1,285 Members
Stephen M. Walt is the academic dean and the Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Origins of Alliances
- Original publication date
- 1987
- Important places
- Middle East
Classifications
- Genres
- Politics and Government, Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 327.1 — Society, government, & culture Political science International Relations: Spies Foreign policy and specific topics in international relations
- LCC
- JX4005 .W335 — Political Science International law, see JZ and KZ (obsolete) International law, see JZ and KZ International law
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 78
- Popularity
- 407,108
- Rating
- (4.00)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 1
