American Allies in Times of War : The Great Asymmetry

Why are allies so unpredictable? In American Allies in Times of War , Stéfanie von Hlatky tackles this question by examining military cooperation between the United States and its allies. First, this book demonstrates that alliance demands in times of war cannot always be met by democratic allies due to domestic political constraints. Second, concerns over the delivery of military assets can further curtail the ability of governments to commit resources to war. The author convincingly argues that it is essential to account for these factors to understand the varying levels of military cooperation observed between the US and its closest partners. This book offers an original comparative analysis of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia's response to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The case studies highlight that decisions involving the use of force must address both domestic-level constraints and the importance of the bilateral relationship with the United States. This book explains how American allies can manage requests for political and military support by resorting to effective negotiation strategies to influence the terms of cooperation. American Allies in Times of War offers a comprehensive analysis of why and how allies go to war together and dispels some myths and misconceptions about the politics behind military cooperation. It is intended for policymakers, academics, and students who want to gain insight into how foreign and defence policy is made and how domestic pressures and operational constraints impact contemporary military engagements. This book focuses on military cooperation between the United States and its allies in times of war and asks: why are allies so unpredictable? It shows that alliance demands related to military cooperation cannot always be fulfilled by democratic allies due to domestic political constraints. Additionally, concerns over military feasibility can further constrain governments in committing resources to war. Taking these constraints into account is key to explain the varying levels of military cooperation between democratic allies. This book also explains how American allies can turn down US requests for political and military support. It shows how these allies can deploy strategies to overcome power asymmetries by resorting to leveraging, hedging and compensation tactics. While they can rarely influence their dominant alliance partner decisively, they are successful in resisting pressures exerted by the US. The argument builds on three central claims. First, power asymmetries between allies translate into different assessments of international threats. Second, when disagreements over threats arise, the outcome of intra-alliance bargaining is not necessarily dictated by the stronger power. Third, secondary states face a policy trade-off between establishing a reputation as a reliable alliance partner and pursuing politically-safer alternatives. The empirical focus of the book is on formal US allies, as they have the most to gain or lose by going along with American plans. The case studies are the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia's response to the war in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq during the period from 2001 to 2003 Why are allies so unpredictable? In , Stéfanie von Hlatky tackles this question by examining military cooperation between the United States and its allies. First, this book demonstrates that alliance demands in times of war cannot always be met by democratic allies due to domestic political constraints. Second, concerns over the delivery of military assets can further curtail the ability of governments to commit resources to war. The author convincingly argues that it is essential to account for these factors to understand the varying levels of military cooperation observed between the US and its closest partners.This book offers an original comparative analysis of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia's response to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The case studies highlight that decisions involving the use of force must address both domestic-level constraints and the importance of the bilateral relationship with the United States. This book explains how American allies can manage requests for political and military support by resorting to effective negotiation strategies to influence the terms of cooperation.__American Allies in Times of War__ The Author Focuses On Military Cooperation Between The United States And Its Allies In Times Of War And Asks: Why Are Allies So Unpredictable? The Book Shows That Alliance Demands Related To Military Cooperation Cannot Always Be Fulfilled By Democratic Allies Due To Domestic Political Constraints. Additionally Concerns Over Military Feasibility Can Further Constrain Governments In Committing Resources To War. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1.introduction: Why Are Allies So Unpredictable? -- 2.a Theory Of Asymmetric Security Cooperation -- 3.exceeding Expectations: The Uk And The War On Terror -- 4.canada-us Relations And The War On Terror -- 5.australia: Regional Power, Global War -- 6.conclusion: Overcoming The Great Asymmetry. Stéfanie Von Hlatky. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Examines military cooperation between the US and its allies, demonstrating that demands cannot always be met by democratic allies due to domestic political constraints, and that concerns over military assets can further limit governments' ability to commit resources. Analyzes responses to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq by the UK, Canada, and Australia Examines the decision-making process leading up to the wars of Afghanistan and Iraq from the point of view the United States' closest allies, in particular Canada, the UK, and Australia.