Partners in Peace and War: Theories of Alliance Formation and the Prospects of a Russia-China Alliance Explored
type: CreativeWork
description: This thesis explores the various, predominately realist-centric theories on why states form military alliances. Taking a theoretical overview of balance-of-power and balance-of-threat theories, the thesis looks at their application for two major powers that have a checkered history with each other, Russia and China, and determines the reasons for a potential alliance between them. Additionally, since this proposed alliance has implications for the United States, an overview of American strategies to counteract the Russo-Sino alliance is necessary. The prospect of a Russo-Sino alliance has drastic repercussions for the international system, thus making the theories as to why states form or remove themselves from alliances pertinent. The situation currently in the system is unique as it is seen, in the thesis, as a unipolar system transiting to a multipolar system with a clear hegemon.
abstract: This thesis explores the various, predominately realist-centric theories on why states form military alliances. Taking a theoretical overview of balance-of-power and balance-of-threat theories, the thesis looks at their application for two major powers that have a checkered history with each other, Russia and China, and determines the reasons for a potential alliance between them. Additionally, since this proposed alliance has implications for the United States, an overview of American strategies to counteract the Russo-Sino alliance is necessary. The prospect of a Russo-Sino alliance has drastic repercussions for the international system, thus making the theories as to why states form or remove themselves from alliances pertinent. The situation currently in the system is unique as it is seen, in the thesis, as a unipolar system transiting to a multipolar system with a clear hegemon.
author: MacHaffie, James Peter
keywords: alliances, Russia, China, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, balance-of-power, balance-of-threat, neorealism, United States, Great Powers, India, unipolarity, multipolarity, Defense and Security Studies
date published: 2011-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:16:37Z
provider: Missouri State University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Missouri State University