Bandwagoning, Balancing, and Small States: A Case of Sri Lanka

Gunasekara, Sandya Nishanthi

doi:10.5539/ass.v11n28p212

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Waltz views Bandwagon as the best choice of a small country because it is safer than forming alliances with other large countries. Waltz conveyed this because the alliance cannot quickly respond to assist (Gunasekara, 2015). The Strategy for responding to threats is a condition of a lack of power distribution.…”

Section: Hedging Strategymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Rationality of Indonesia Free-Active Politics Facing Chinese Aggressiveness in the Claims of the North Natuna Sea

Ma'ruf

Legionosuko²,

Risman³

2020

TSSJ

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China's claim to the North Natuna Sea is a manifestation of the South China Sea conflict. For this action, Indonesia responded with diplomatic rebuff either through political means or the presence of national defense and security stakeholders in the North Natuna Sea. The Chinese government responded that the claim of the Nine-dash Line that intersects with the North Natuna Sea EEZ is legal. This aggressive action of China is a threat to Indonesia's sovereign rights over the North Natuna Sea. This paper analyzes foreign policy as the political position of Indonesian interaction in responding to Chinese aggressiveness. The author uses descriptive analytical qualitative research methods using the Hedging Strategy and Dependency theory. The Chinese claim is a potential challenge to the interests and sovereignty of Indonesia, which is contested with the principle of a free and active foreign policy based on soft diplomacy and independent approach. The approach and steps of Indonesian politics become relevant if faced with conditions of asymmetrical power and Indonesia's National interest in China. So that Indonesia needs to build a more flexible foreign policy by maneuvering to emphasize China's aggressive attitude either directly or indirectly through hedging strategies.

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Section: Hedging Strategymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Rationality of Indonesia Free-Active Politics Facing Chinese Aggressiveness in the Claims of the North Natuna Sea

Ma'ruf

Legionosuko²,

Risman³

2020

TSSJ

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“…The strategy employed by secondary states 1 in managing their relations with powerful states has been subject of growing interest in the study of relationships among secondary and powerful states (Greitens, 2016;Levick and Schulz, 2020;Gunasekara;2015). Among the reasons to justify this, the most sounding is the existing myriad of conflated concepts attempting to capture secondary states' strategies with respect to powerful countries (Levick and Schulz, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Balancing to Accommodation: Understanding the Philippines’s Relations with the US and China in Post-Arbitration Period

Küçükdeğirmenci¹,

Zandamela²

2020

theijhss

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This article examines the nature of the Philippines' response with respect to China and the United Sates (the US) in the period of post arbitration, roughly beginning from July 12, 2016 when the Permanent Court of Arbitration (the PCA) in the Hague, issued a ruling in the case of the disputed Spratly Islands until present. The significance of the research comes from the strategy used by secondary states of international politics in dealing their relations with great powers. The Philippines seems to have been stuck between the United States and China, in particular, in the wake of post-arbitration. In the literature, majority of the study indicates that the Philippines is shifting its policy from balancing with the United States to accommodation with China. However, current alliance between the United States and the Philippines and China's ongoing activities in the South China Sea prevent the Philippines of employing exclusively accommodation with China. The article finds that although Manila and Beijing are strengthening their ties in many domains, the United States and the Philippines are expected to remain allies in the near future. Consequently, we consider that the Philippines' policy of accommodation with China is just a complementary policy rather than an alternative approach.

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“…When and why do the small powers choose to bandwagon? States align with a powerful coalition will support the aligned one to appease and attain some measure of security (Gunasekara, 2015). To the neo-realist view, the weaker states tend to bandwagon because the stronger powers pose the greater threat and/or the weaker states are too small to influence the distribution of power, even if they choose to balance.…”

Section: Balancing and Bandwagoning Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…He also noted that if a state is weaker, it has a huge possibility to bandwagon with the threatening great powers because balancing and relying on one's alliance are unwise, since the help that comes from this alliance may not be sufficient enough to get quick aid. Moreover, states that are close to a big neighbor with offensive power may be forced to bandwagon because balancing alliances are simply not viable (Walt, 1987, p. 25;Gunasekara, 2015). The weaker states in the proximity of stronger states try to bandwagon with the strength for their survival, however, the great powers balance against potential hegemons (Levy, 1989).…”

Section: Balancing and Bandwagoning Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Myanmar-China Asymmetrical Relations: The Case Study of Myitsone Hydropower Dam Project through the Lens of Small Power’s Strategies

Thida¹

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The aim of the research is to find the strategies and tactics of small powers in relations with great power neighbour under the asymmetrical relationship. The research problem The research accommodates the two important research problems. (1) To investigate how a small power can manage its asymmetrical relations with a great power neighbor. (2) To observe how a small power cooperative with a big power without deteriorating its sovereignty, by protecting its national interest, and by avoiding confrontation with the big power, as well as by preserving the bilateral relations between them. The subject of analysis The research emphasizes on the Myanmar-China asymmetrical relations with a special focus on the Myitsone dam hydropower project as a case study which is a critical issue between the two countries. The impact of the dam issue not only effects on the Sino-Myanmar relations but also influences on other asymmetrical relations between China and small powers. It also The research question What tactics and strategies does Myanmar use to increase its room for maneuver in its asymmetric relationship with China? Hypotheses The research will investigate two hypotheses: (1) The behaviors of small powers can be identified between a tactical and strategical level in an asymmetric relationship. (2) Small powers are capable of changing the behavior of big powers in different ways besides by using balancing and bandwagoning strategies. Conclusion and the highlight of a new scientific result Regarding the big picture of Sino-Myanmar relations, it has been found that Myanmar practices the “bandwagoning” strategy with limits. In the Myitsone Dam suspension, the Myanmar government used the “balancing” strategy with limits. To answer the promised research question, the research can investigate that Myanmar has used both bandwagoning and balancing strategies in limit. The research has revealed the detailed analysis of Myanmar’s tactical and strategical moves toward China. As a new scientific result, the research insists that small states are really important actors in international relations. Despite their power discrepancy with big powers, small countries have the capability to counterbalance and counterweight great powers through their tactical moves. In doing so, small states can change the behavior of great powers without breaking up their relationships. They can improve their own leverages and abilities within the framework of cooperation with stronger powers. Thus, power is not a determinant factor in international relations, even in the asymmetrical relationship. Small powers can manipulate their strategies by developing their political leverage, by taking advantages of stronger powers’ deficiencies, by effectively using its geostrategic importance, by engaging regional and international organizations, and so on. The research highlights the two distinct strategies of bandwagoning and balancing, in which small powers can maneuver these two strategies in limitation. They can utilize these two strategies not only in resisting stronger powers but also in seeking and developing their interests. Small powers can also influence the behavior of great powers through their impressive strategies.

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Bandwagoning, Balancing, and Small States: A Case of Sri Lanka

Cited by 9 publications

References 19 publications

The Rationality of Indonesia Free-Active Politics Facing Chinese Aggressiveness in the Claims of the North Natuna Sea

The Rationality of Indonesia Free-Active Politics Facing Chinese Aggressiveness in the Claims of the North Natuna Sea

From Balancing to Accommodation: Understanding the Philippines’s Relations with the US and China in Post-Arbitration Period

Myanmar-China Asymmetrical Relations: The Case Study of Myitsone Hydropower Dam Project through the Lens of Small Power’s Strategies

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