Book contents
- Understanding International Security
- Reviews
- Understanding International Security
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Brief Contents
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 International Security: The Historical Evolution of a Discipline
- Part I Security in Theory
- Part II The Traditional Security Agenda
- 9 Conventional War and Warfare
- 10 Irregular War and Warfare
- 11 Security and International Law
- 12 The Architectures of Alignment: Alliances, Security Institutions, Coalitions, and Strategic Partnerships
- 13 Weapons of Mass Destruction: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical
- 14 Political Violence and Terrorism
- Part III A Wider and Deeper Security Agenda
- Glossary
- References
- Index
- References
12 - The Architectures of Alignment: Alliances, Security Institutions, Coalitions, and Strategic Partnerships
from Part II - The Traditional Security Agenda
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 October 2025
Book contents
- Understanding International Security
- Reviews
- Understanding International Security
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Brief Contents
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 International Security: The Historical Evolution of a Discipline
- Part I Security in Theory
- Part II The Traditional Security Agenda
- 9 Conventional War and Warfare
- 10 Irregular War and Warfare
- 11 Security and International Law
- 12 The Architectures of Alignment: Alliances, Security Institutions, Coalitions, and Strategic Partnerships
- 13 Weapons of Mass Destruction: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical
- 14 Political Violence and Terrorism
- Part III A Wider and Deeper Security Agenda
- Glossary
- References
- Index
- References
Summary
“Alignment” is an umbrella term to describe a relationship between two or more states that involves mutual expectations of some degree of policy coordination on security issues under certain conditions in the future. The types of alignment explored in this chapter are alliances, thin and thick security institutions, coalitions, and strategic partnerships. The distinguishing features of these alignments are their differing levels of formality and the reason for their creation, or their objectives. Strategic alignments remain one of the dominant means that sovereign states possess to cooperate and coordinate their actions around common threats and political interests. States are either pulled into distrustful relations through security dilemmas or they are obliged to work together to solve common problems. Alliances, security institutions, coalitions, and strategic partnerships offer a variety of ways that states may seek to address security issues, threats, or challenges to their territories or interests.
Keywords
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- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Understanding International SecurityTheory and Practice, pp. 230 - 258Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
References
Primary Sources
Kupchan, Charles A. and Kupchan, Clifford A. (1995) “The promise of collective security,” International Security, 20 (1), pp. 52–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eilstrup-Sangiovanni, Mette (2021) “What kills international organisations? When and why international organisations terminate,” European Journal of International Relations, 27 (1), pp. 281–310.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Snyder, Glenn H. (1984) “The security dilemma in alliance politics,” World Politics, 36 (4), pp. 461–495.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Secondary Sources
Haftendorn, Helga, Keohane, Robert O., and Wallander, Celeste A. (eds.) (1999) Imperfect unions: Security institutions over time and space. Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hofmann, Stephanie (2013) European security in NATO’s shadow: Party ideologies and institution building. Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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