New Horizons in International Relations series – serie

Examining the role of elections and top-down democracy promotion in Africa, this book focuses on how and why electoral contests are associated with division and violence. It considers whether the Western political model has failed developing countries, in what ways, and how this has affected people’s lives.Providing historical analyses of colonization, liberalism, and democracy, John A. Doces challenges the prevailing notions of liberal democracy and instead identifies its promotion as a form of political control and the latest manifestation of the colonial endeavor. Utilizing original data from 11 African case studies, the book finds that non-Western countries do not have the foundations to support competitive processes like democratic elections, which are associated with spikes in violence and fear. Adopting a comparative approach, Doces concludes that imposing Western liberal democracy upon developing societies inflicts harm that persists over time, limiting rather than promoting prosperity.This topical book is invaluable for students and scholars of international relations, political science and public policy, security studies, democracy, regulation and governance, and development studies. Its empirical research will also be of use to policymakers and advisors working in developing countries.

In light of recent significant changes to the global order, The Unmaking of Special Rights explores an often-forgotten aspect of these power shifts: special rights for developing countries. Written by a group of esteemed experts, it analyzes when and how special rights for developing countries have evolved in the context of global power shifts.This informative book outlines how, since decolonization, several global regimes have granted ‘disadvantaged’ members exemptions, yet the rise of Brazil, India, China, and other countries has led to pressure to adjust these rights to new economic realities. Based on case studies in global trade, climate, and health governance, this groundbreaking book comparatively assesses the evolution of differential treatment across global governance, highlighting how treating all developing countries as a single group has gradually been replaced with a more nuanced approach. Chapters cover differentiated responsibilities in the climate regime, capacity, willingness and need in the health regime, and special and differential treatment in the World Trade Organization (WTO).For academics, researchers and students specializing in international economics, law and politics, international political economy, and public policy, this book will be a vital read. Providing in-depth comparative case studies, it will also be of interest to practitioners and policymakers working in international development organizations.

This topical book explores key motivating factors in the formation and dissolution of secret alliances between states. Matthew Millard examines the role of a variety of different factors in the formation, endurance, and termination of secret alliances, analyzing key case studies across Africa, Asia, and Europe that showcase the consequences of broken secret alliances.Using historical examples and quantitative data, Millard discusses why states refrain from institutionalizing their covert alliances, evaluating whether these are more or less enduring than public ones. He suggests that secret alliances form between two states when there is a breakdown in bargaining with a third target state, resulting in alliances that do not provide public signals of cooperation. Furthermore, the stakes over what is being divided up are more likely to result in war than in public alliances. Chapters debate the advantages and disadvantages of forming secret alliances and identify reasons that countries might renege on their obligations, including changes in leadership, the security environment, and conflicting military commitments.Secret Alliances is a vital read for students and scholars in political science and public policy, international relations, and security studies. Its novel insights make this book an essential reference tool for practitioners and policymakers in politics and foreign policy.

This compelling book examines how the rise of an illiberal China has affected the stability of the Western-dominated order through the lens of global development finance. David Skidmore demonstrates how China’s growing impact on the global development finance regime has produced competitive convergence rather than divergence, emphasizing the resilience of the liberal international order.Skidmore discusses China’s emergence as a major source of development finance through strategies such as the Belt and Road initiative, the Asian Infrastructure Bank and the New Development Bank. Analysing measures at both bilateral and multilateral level, he investigates claims that China is exporting an economic model to the developing world and considers the successes and failures of such efforts. The book further explores Western responses to China’s growth, including the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. It illustrates how competitive convergence has narrowed the gap between Western and Chinese practices, with emulation rather than differentiation resulting in a pattern of two-way socialization between East and West.Students and scholars of political science, international relations, political economy, Asian politics and economics, and Chinese foreign policy will greatly benefit from the innovative insights of this book. It is also a vital resource for policymakers and practitioners working in aid and development.

International Security Studies and Technology applies an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of emerging technologies and issues related to their development, governance, laws, ethics, understanding, and (mis)use, considering their impact on international security and established international norms.Bringing together a diverse collection of experts, Tobias T. Gibson and Kurt W. Jefferson analyse international security and technology through three conceptual frameworks: approaches, assessments, and frontiers. The book examines the real-life impacts of new technologies on national security, warfare, military doctrine, and geopolitical security alliances across various environmental and human security contexts. Exploring intelligence, information control strategies, cybersecurity, child labour trafficking and chemical and biological weapons, it builds a deeper understanding of the applied aspects of security and technology. The book concludes with a discussion of how science fiction and the silver screen, the future of space in international security, the ethics of autonomous weapons, and American presidential war powers are all affected by the boundaries of technological advancements in the context of international security.This book is vital for students and scholars of security, international relations, AI and technology, politics and public policy, and regulation and governance. Its practical applications are also beneficial to international security lawyers and policy advisors.

This timely book provides a broad but incisive overview of US policy toward the People's Republic of China from 1949 until the present. Paul J. Smith argues that any conflict or war between the two nations would have devastating global consequences, proposing a mutually beneficial path forward.Smith examines six distinct, discrete and discernible time phases in which the United States has practiced different types of engagement, covering comprehensive containment, geopolitical convergence, transformational engagement and, finally, competitive engagement. From the Cold War, to the Tiananmen protests to the September 11 attacks, the book demonstrates the trajectory of Sino–American relations throughout global crises. It further reviews the relationship between the US and China in its most dangerous phase yet, citing their mutual possession of nuclear stockpiles and combined ownership of a third of the global economy. In its conclusion, the book outlines a compelling framework to preserve peace and sustain national interests.America’s China Gamble is a timely resource for students and researchers in international relations, security studies, Asian studies and political science. Its extensive primary sources and research evidence will greatly benefit analysts, policymakers and specialists in US–China relations, foreign policy and international security.

This timely book investigates the power rivalry between the US and China, examining the internal forces that are shaping both nations’ foreign policies, the geopolitical and economic dynamics of their competition, and its profound impact on global politics, economics, and security.Drawing on empirical case studies, leading scholars discuss the global and regional implications of this developing rivalry, covering key topics including regime security, the technological race, US–China competition in international institutions, Beijing’s role in the Russia–Ukraine conflict, the challenges that Canada faces in the US–China rivalry, the fragility of the US–South Korea alliance, and strategic choices that East Asian democracies have to take amid the US–China rivalry. In an era of intensified great power competition, strategic realignments and growing uncertainty, this book considers how the US–China rivalry is reshaping international governance institutions and norms, fracturing economic and technological networks and reconfiguring alliances across the globe.The US–China Rivalry is a valuable resource for scholars, students and researchers of international relations, political science, international economics and Asian politics. It is also beneficial for policymakers and government officials seeking to formulate effective policies and strategies in the areas of diplomacy, trade and technology.

This insightful and timely book considers the role of great-power competition in what has come to be known as gray zone conflict. Based on cutting-edge empirical research, it addresses the question: how can interactions between adversaries in international crises be managed in ways which avoid dangerous escalation?Drawing together diverse perspectives, an interdisciplinary team of academics and policy analysts take a data-driven approach to analyzing international crises over the past 100 years. Taking the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine as a backdrop for critical evaluation, chapters examine US and NATO approaches to the management of escalation in asymmetric conflicts. Ultimately, the book identifies areas where classical deterrence theory is incompatible with the realities of the contemporary conflict environment, and proposes innovative tools for managing crises in the future. Providing historical overviews of escalation management in international crises, this comprehensive book is essential reading for students and scholars of international politics, international relations, terrorism and security, and foreign policy, particularly those studying Chinese, Russian and US strategic decision making. It will also be beneficial to policy analysts, military leaders, and journalists focusing on contemporary international issues.