System polarities and alliance politics

176 Pages·2016·1.22 MB·English

by  Sung Woo Kim

University of Iowa
Iowa Research Online
Theses and Dissertations
Fall 2012
System polarities and alliance politics
Sung Woo Kim
University of Iowa
Copyright 2012 Sung Woo Kim
This dissertation is available at Iowa Research Online: https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/3482
Recommended Citation
Kim, Sung Woo. "System polarities and alliance politics." PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) thesis, University of Iowa, 2012.
https://doi.org/10.17077/etd.lqkhptag
Follow this and additional works at:https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd
Part of thePolitical Science Commons
SYSTEM POLARITIES AND ALLIANCE POLITICS
by
Sung Woo Kim
An Abstract
Of a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the Doctor of
Philosophy degree in Political Science
in the Graduate College of
The University of Iowa
December 2012
1

Thesis Supervisor: Associate Professor Kelly M. Kadera
1
ABSTRACT
The end of the Cold War in 1990 was followed by a shift from a bipolar to a
unipolar world, profoundly transforming the nature of international alliance politics. Then,
what are the systemic features of the unipolar system that have changed alliance relations
in comparison to the previous bipolar and multipolar world? How can we explain the
diverse reaction of the U.S. allies in different regions in response to the U.S. request for
the modification of alliance functions and reshaping of the alliance burden sharing? How
do we measure and interpret changes in the nature of alliance politics in a unipolar
system? The goal of this project is to provide a systematic answer to these questions.
Focusing on international system polarities and alliance burden sharing behavior, this
dissertation builds a framework for understanding the dynamics of alliance politics. In
particular, I argue that alliance burden sharing as an empirical indicator plays a critical
role in explaining the changed nature of the unipolar alliance system. First, I examine
how the two interrelated systemic factors – external threat and the distribution of power –
influence alliance burden sharing with a system-level analysis by utilizing a quantitative
method with state-year burden sharing data from 1885 to 2000. Second, I present case
studies of South Korea and Japan’s alliance burden sharing in the post-Cold War period.
A central argument of the dissertation is that the role and function of alliance is
determined by structural constraints of different international system polarities.
1

Specifically, this project demonstrates that burden sharing is a key factor representing the
impact of systemic properties of unipolarity on the behavioral changes in alliance politics.
Abstract Approved: ____________________________________
Thesis Supervisor
____________________________________
Title and Department
____________________________________
Date
SYSTEM POLARITIES AND ALLIANCE POLITICS
by
Sung Woo Kim
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the Doctor of
Philosophy degree in Political Science
in the Graduate College of
The University of Iowa
December 2012
1

Thesis Supervisor: Associate Professor Kelly M. Kadera
Copyright by
SUNG WOO KIM
2012
All Rights Reserved
2
Graduate College
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL
_______________________
PH.D. THESIS
_______________
This is to certify that the Ph.D. thesis of
Sung Woo Kim
has been approved by the Examining Committee
for the thesis requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy
degree in Political Science at the December 2012 graduation.
Thesis Committee: ___________________________________
Kelly M. Kadera, Thesis Supervisor
___________________________________
John A. C. Conybeare
___________________________________
Brian Lai
___________________________________
Ha-Lyong Jung
___________________________________
Allysa Park
존경하는 부모님, 그리고 사랑하는 가족 (혜성, 희연, 도연)에게 바칩니다.
2

ii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I gratefully acknowledge the contributions and assistance of my dissertation
committee members for their willingness to serve on my committee and to support my
research. I am grateful to Alyssa Park for agreeing to serve on this committee as an
external member. I appreciate Brian Lai for his valuable comments and feedback as I
complete this project. Professor John A. C. Conybeare was extremely helpful in
providing guidance on framing the ideas and arguments of this project. I am also thankful
to his thoughtful consideration throughout graduate school. I greatly appreciate the
guidance and encouragement I have received from Ha-Lyong Jung. This research would
not have been possible without his support and guidance. My advisor, Kelly M. Kadera,
was my mentor who supported and encouraged me throughout my graduate education.
She was willing to spend immeasurable her time and energy to develop ideas, build a
theoretical framework, and organize this project in a timely manner. I would not have
been able to bring this project to fruition without her guidance.
I would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Republic of Korea Army that
gave me an opportunity to study abroad and supported me in finishing this project. I am
also grateful to my wonderful friends who have helped me in so many ways throughout
my graduate studies. In particular, thanks to Denise Tiffany for helping me in the
dissertation writing process.
3

Finally, I dedicate this dissertation to my wonderful family. My father and mother
have always been very supportive of my military and educational goals and have
expressed confidence at every stage. I am deeply indebted to my beautiful wife, Hyesung.
She has sacrificed a great deal of her time and energy, taking care of our daughters and
supporting my graduate education. I am especially grateful to my lovely daughters, Hee-
Yeon and Do-Yeon. They have been the meaning of my life and have encouraged me a
lot to finish this project. I am forever grateful to all my family.
iii
ABSTRACT
The end of the Cold War in 1990 was followed by a shift from a bipolar to a
unipolar world, profoundly transforming the nature of international alliance politics. Then,
what are the systemic features of the unipolar system that have changed alliance relations
in comparison to the previous bipolar and multipolar world? How can we explain the
diverse reaction of the U.S. allies in different regions in response to the U.S. request for
the modification of alliance functions and reshaping of the alliance burden sharing? How
do we measure and interpret changes in the nature of alliance politics in a unipolar
system? The goal of this project is to provide a systematic answer to these questions.
Focusing on international system polarities and alliance burden sharing behavior, this
dissertation builds a framework for understanding the dynamics of alliance politics. In
particular, I argue that alliance burden sharing as an empirical indicator plays a critical
role in explaining the changed nature of the unipolar alliance system. First, I examine
how the two interrelated systemic factors – external threat and the distribution of power –
influence alliance burden sharing with a system-level analysis by utilizing a quantitative
method with state-year burden sharing data from 1885 to 2000. Second, I present case
studies of South Korea and Japan’s alliance burden sharing in the post-Cold War period.
A central argument of the dissertation is that the role and function of alliance is
determined by structural constraints of different international system polarities.
4

Specifically, this project demonstrates that burden sharing is a key factor representing the
impact of systemic properties of unipolarity on the behavioral changes in alliance politics.

iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ vii
LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii
CHAPTER
I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................1

1.1. Arguments ..................................................................................................9
1.2 Methodology ............................................................................................12
1.3 The Plan of the Dissertation ....................................................................14
II. A SYSTEMIC THEORY OF POLARITY AND ALLIANCE
DEFENSE SPENDING .............................................................................18

2.1. Alliances and Defense Spending .............................................................19
2.2 International System Polarities and Alliance Politics ..............................26
2.3 Structural Changes of International Systems and Alliance Defense
Spending .........................................................................................................41
2.3.1. Multipolarity, Alliance, and Defense Spending ............................42
2.3.2. Bipolarity, Alliance, and Defense Spending .................................46
2.3.3. Unipolarity, Alliance, and Defense Spending ...............................49
III. TESTING SYSTEM POLARITIES AND ALLIANCE DEFENSE
SPENDING ................................................................................................53

3.1. Research Design ......................................................................................53
3.1.1. Dependent Variable .......................................................................55
3.1.2. Independent variables ....................................................................57
3.1.3. Control variables ...........................................................................61
3.2 Empirical Findings ...................................................................................64
IV. A THEORY DIFFERENTIATING ALLIANCE COST SHARING
WITHIN UNIPOLARITY .........................................................................72

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4.1. Alliance Cost Sharing in Unipolarity ......................................................73
4.2 Research Trend of Alliance Burden Sharing in the Post-Cold War
Era ...................................................................................................................82
4.3 Necessity, Capacity, and Burden Sharing ................................................87
V. MINOR POWER ALLIANCE UNDER UNIPOLARITY: THE CASE
OF SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN ..........................................................98

5.1. South Korea .............................................................................................99
5.1.1. The ROK-US Alliance in the Post-Cold War Period ....................99
5.1.2. Necessity and Capacity of the ROK-US Alliance .......................103
5.1.3. The ROK’s Alliance Burden Sharing ..........................................109
5.2 Japan ......................................................................................................126
5.2.1. The US-Japan Alliance in the Post-Cold War Period .................126
5.2.2. Necessity and Capacity of the US-Japan Alliance ......................129
v