ALLIANCE AND COALITON IN CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE CASE OF U.S - SOUTH KOREA

Abstract

Alliance and coalition occupy a very significant place in the study of international politics. Alliance formation is a vital tool of statecraft. It helps to enhance the capabilities of states thereby maintaining their security and survival in an anarchical international system. Alliance can also be counterproductive as they would provoke counter alliance measures. This paper therefore examined the formation of alliance and coalition with particular interest on U.S –South Korea. The balance of Power theory was utilized as a framework of analysis. The paper also went further to explain the rationale behind alliance formation as well as ascertain whether nations actually balance power or threat in their interaction as members of the international community. With the use of secondary data the paper concludes that, even though nations balance against threat perceive in form of power capabilities of their protagonist, alliance and coalition remained the most integral part of all analysis in international relations as they are aimed at guaranteeing security and survival of member states.