Explaining Alliance Explaining Alliance FormationFormation

Internal vs. External Internal vs. External SourcesSources

Omnibalancing IOmnibalancing I

►Balance of power is inadequate in Balance of power is inadequate in explaining Third World alignmentexplaining Third World alignment

►Draws upon the key assumptions of the Draws upon the key assumptions of the balance of power (and balance of threat balance of power (and balance of threat theory)theory)

►Deals with Deals with all threatsall threats, i.e. internal and , i.e. internal and external threatsexternal threats

►Systemic vs. unit level argumentsSystemic vs. unit level arguments

Omnibalancing IIOmnibalancing II►States appease secondary threats in order to States appease secondary threats in order to

counter primary onescounter primary ones►Leaders seek to split alignments against them, Leaders seek to split alignments against them,

while also focusing on the primary sources of while also focusing on the primary sources of threatthreat

►What appears to be bandwagoning on the What appears to be bandwagoning on the surface is actually a form of balancingsurface is actually a form of balancing

►Sometimes leaders place their own interests Sometimes leaders place their own interests before the interests of the statebefore the interests of the state

Omnibalancing IIIOmnibalancing III

►For further details, please visit For further details, please visit Blackboard or email me at Blackboard or email me at ivanovid@ucmail.uc.edu

►Thank you. Thank you.

The Concept of Omnialignment The Concept of Omnialignment (Harknett & VanDenBerg)(Harknett & VanDenBerg)

► Alignment may be driven by presence of Alignment may be driven by presence of internal and internal and externalexternal challenges challenges

► These These internal and externalinternal and external challenges reinforce each challenges reinforce each otherother

► In certain cases alignment may reflect a direct response In certain cases alignment may reflect a direct response to an internal threat rather than a reaction to external to an internal threat rather than a reaction to external stimulistimuli

► Reactions to interrelated threats differs from responses Reactions to interrelated threats differs from responses to primary internal or primary external threatsto primary internal or primary external threats

► These reactions require a combined strategy to deal These reactions require a combined strategy to deal with both types of threats that feed off each otherwith both types of threats that feed off each other

Interrelated ThreatsInterrelated Threats►Three conditions contribute to the presence of Three conditions contribute to the presence of

internal threats:internal threats:1. Competing allegiances1. Competing allegiances2. Lack of legitimacy2. Lack of legitimacy3. State power3. State power

►There are two basic responses to all three types There are two basic responses to all three types of threats:of threats:-- balancing -- -- balancing -- resistanceresistance of most pressing threats of most pressing threats-- bandwagoning – -- bandwagoning – appeasementappeasement of most pressing of most pressing threatsthreats

Interrelated Threats Interrelated Threats (cont’d)(cont’d)

►Strategic BalanceStrategic Balance – international alignment that – international alignment that resistsresists an an externalexternal threat threat

►Strategic BandwagonStrategic Bandwagon – international alignment – international alignment that that appeasesappeases an an externalexternal threat threat

►Internal BalanceInternal Balance -- international alignment that -- international alignment that resistsresists an an internalinternal threat threat

►Internal BandwagonInternal Bandwagon -- international alignment -- international alignment that that appeasesappeases an an internalinternal threat threat

Forms of OmnialignmentsForms of Omnialignments

Internal External

Internal Balance

Internal Bandwagoning

External Balance

Double Balance – resists against external and internal forces

Balance-Bandwagon – resists external and appeases internal forces

External Bandwagoning

Bandwagon-Balance – appeases external and resists internal forces

Double Bandwagon – appeases against internal and external threats