The Power of Weakness: Coercion in the American Alliance Network in Asia

Authors

• Noelle Claire Troutman, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

Rupal Mehta

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Department

Political Science

Date of this Version

11-1-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Citation

A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Major: Political Science

Under the supervision of Professor Rupal Mehta

Lincoln, Nebraska, 2023

Comments

Copyright 2023, Noelle Claire Troutman. Used by permission

Abstract

How can a weaker ally, or ‘protégé’ coerce their stronger partner, or ‘patron’ for greater autonomy? My primary argument is that protégés have agency; they can and do coerce their patron. I ask two interrelated questions within this study. First, when can allied preferences diverge? Second, if allied disagreement is likely, how can a protégé coerce their patron for greater autonomy? I argue that protégés with insecure regimes can threaten their own collapse to get their patron to give into their demands. This is a tough lie to get away with; patrons are therefore likely to concede when their protégé does threaten it. Failure to do so would waste resources the patron has, and may currently, contribute to the protégé’s defense. I test the theory with case work on the U.S.-ROK and U.S.-Japan alliances. My findings support the theory; protégés can and do coerce their patrons for greater autonomy.

Advisor: Rupal Mehta

Recommended Citation

Troutman, Noelle Claire, "The Power of Weakness: Coercion in the American Alliance Network in Asia" (2023). Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–. 17.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissunl/17