Asymmetry and International Relationships

254 Pages·2016·1.466 MB·English

by  Brantly Womack

Asymmetry and International Relationships
Power is real, but it does not always prevail. This book explores how
disparity structures international relationships. Beginning at the bilat-
eral level, the relationship between the smaller side and the larger side
can be normal as long as the smaller does not feel threatened and
the larger can assume that its capabilities are respected. However,
the smaller can be tempted to brinksmanship, while the larger can be
temptedtobully.Asymmetricconflictsareoftenstalematedbecausethe
limited commitment of the larger side is met by the smaller’s mortal
resistance. In multilateral situations, asymmetry shapes patterns of
uncertaintyandattention.Inglobalsystems,howhegemonstreattheir
subjects isthe unobservedsand shifting beneaththeir feetas theylook
toward their challenger. Since 2008, the United States has retained
primacy but not dominance. The management of asymmetric relation-
ships in a multinodal world will determine how power matters in the
currentera.
brantlywomackholdstheC.K.YenChairattheMillerCenter,and
isProfessorofForeignAffairs,attheUniversityofVirginia.Hisresearch
focusesonChinesepoliticsandinternationalrelationshipsinEastAsia.
His most recent books include China and Vietnam: The Politics of
Asymmetry (2006), China Among Unequals (2010), and China’s Rise
inHistoricalPerspective(2010).Hehasworkedcloselywithuniversities
and researchinstitutesinChina, Vietnam,and Taiwan,andwasgiven
theChinaFriendshipAwardin2011.

Asymmetry and International
Relationships
BRANTLY WOMACK
UniversityofVirginia
32AvenueoftheAmericas,NewYork,ny10013-2473,usa
CambridgeUniversityPressispartoftheUniversityofCambridge.
ItfurtherstheUniversity’smissionbydisseminatingknowledgeinthepursuitof
education,learning,andresearchatthehighestinternationallevelsofexcellence.
www.cambridge.org
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©BrantlyWomack2016
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Firstpublished2016
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
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LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData
Names:Womack,Brantly,1947–
Title:Asymmetryandinternationalrelationships/BrantlyWomack.
Description:NewYork,NY:CambridgeUniversityPress,2015.jIncludes
bibliographicalreferencesandindex.
Identifiers:LCCN2015033495jisbn9781107132894(Hardback)
Subjects:LCSH:Internationalrelations.jDiplomacy.
Classification:LCCJZ1305.W632015|DDC327.101–dc23LCrecordavailableathttp://lccn.loc.
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Contents
Listof Figures page viii
Listof Tables ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xvii
Introduction 1
Asymmetry’sEnduringReality 4
HegemonyandAsymmetry 5
DefinitionsofAsymmetry 7
AsymmetryTheoryandtheStudyofInternationalRelations 23
Method 31
ThePlanoftheBook 33
part i asymmetry and bilateral relationships
1 Basic Structure of Asymmetric Relationships 39
TheLocatednessofInterestsandParametricReasonableness 40
InternationalRelationshipsandInternationalRelations 42
CountryAandCountryB 43
ThePoliticsofAsymmetricAttention 47
Autonomy,Deference,andRespect 51
TheCalculusofAsymmetricInteraction 53
AsymmetricversusDominantRelationships 56
InternationalInitiative 59
ChangeandtheDeepStructureofAsymmetricRelationships 61
2 Asymmetryand Conflict 68
HazardsofNovelty 69
AsymmetricBrinksmanship 72
v
vi Contents
MisperceptionandNegativeComplementarity 74
AsymmetricHostility 76
Settlers,Raiders,Teachers,Patrons,andDestroyers 80
Occupation 85
Stalemate 89
FromStalematetoNormalcy 92
part ii asymmetric systems
3 Multilateral Asymmetry 99
MultilateralInteractions,Chaos,andUncertainty 100
PatternsofTriangularAsymmetry 102
PositionsandChoicesinAsymmetricTriangles 108
Example:Washington-Beijing-Taipei 111
Pseudo-CertaintyinMultilateralSituations 114
CopingwithUncertainty 116
PatternsofInternationalAlignment 121
4 RegionalAsymmetric Relationships 125
TheAmbiguityofRegions 126
DefiningRegions 128
RegionalAttentionPatterns 133
SoftPower 136
DilemmasofRegionalPowers 140
MiddleEarth:TheWorldasSeenfromItsRegions 142
part iii world systems
5 Cyclesand Sustainability 147
TheUltimateRegion 148
TheBrightestHouse:ProblemsofGlobalPerception 151
HegemonicCycles 154
ManagingGlobalAsymmetry 162
CopingwithGlobalUncertainty 166
GlobalAlignments 168
6 Multinodalityand theStatus ad Quem 174
EmergingMultinodality 175
TheStructureofMultinodality 186
BilateralRivalryandItsLimits 189
MultinodalMayhem 193
TheStatusadQuem:SustainabilitybeyondHegemonicCycles 196
part iv policy implications
7 Asymmetric Prescriptions 203
NationalIntelligenceandAsymmetricApperception 205
DomesticComplications 208
Contents vii
BalancingAsymmetricInteractions 210
StructuresofBilateralNormalcy 212
AsymmetricEthics 218
GlobalandRegionalRelationships 221
TheInteractiveLearningCurve 224
Bibliography 229
Index 239
Figures
1.1 Asymmetric attention page 44
1.2 The fieldof asymmetric interaction 53
1.3 Context of bilateral asymmetry 65
1.4 Deep structureof bilateral asymmetry 66
2.1 Patterns of asymmetricmisperception 75
3.1 Strategic triangles and roles 104
3.2 X-pivoted asymmetric triangle 106
3.3 Asymmetric triangles: 2012 GNI and populations U.S., Brazil,
and Argentina 106
4.1 Patterns of regionalattention:one regionalpower 134
4.2 Patterns of regionalattention:rival regional powers 134
4.3 Multipleregional powers 135
4.4 The regionalpower situation 141
7.1 Factors mitigating structural misperception 213
7.2 Asymmetric equity 220
viii
Tables
I.1 Global international asymmetry 2011 page 8
I.2 Asymmetry among the top 100 states 8
I.3 Asymmetry among the top fifty states 9
3.1 Thespectrum of multilateral coping strategies 118
3.2 Alignmentpatterns 122
4.1 Dimensions ofregionality 131
5.1 Global alignmentpatterns 168
6.1 Shares of global population, forty-year intervals 178
6.2 Brazil’s trade partners, 2012 192
ix