AJISS-Commentary No. 102 “Deepening the Alliance within an International Security Community” by Hirotaka Watanabe
The Association of Japanese Institutes of Strategic Studies (AJISS) has just published the AJISS-Commentary No. 102 “Deepening the Alliance within an International Security Community”, by Hirotaka Watanabe ([email protected]), Professor at the Department of International Relations, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
Needless to say, alliances are cooperative relationships among states with shared interests. They entail constant friction between alliance leaders and smaller partners arising from a dilemma of cooperation and independence. Alliances require adjustment to meet the shifting challenges of the time. This entails an inevitable learning process as allies grow truly trustworthy and interdependent. Without allowing each member some degree of independent capability and decision-making, however, it will be difficult for the alliance to grow strong.