This presentation is based on the book with the same title (Yale University Press, 2018) which examines a crucial element of state behavior - the use of international institutions, informal alignments and economic instruments such as sanctions - to constrain the power and threatening behavior of dominant actors. Much of International Relations scholarship fails to capture the use of these non-military instruments for constraining superior power. The soft balancing debate for over a decade has generated much literature and criticisms. However, it has been used exclusively in the context of responses by second-tier states toward U.S. power.

This book expands and tests soft balancing arguments to historical eras (such as the Concert of Europe, and the League of Nations during the interwar period) and the emerging/resurging powers, China and Russia while responding to criticisms aired against the concept and strategy. It seeks to explore: under what conditions do states resort to soft balancing as opposed to hard balancing (relying on formal military alliances and intense arms buildups)? When do they combine both? What are the differences and similarities between the 20th and 21st century cases of soft balancing - one under multipolarity, the other under near-unipolarity? When do soft balancing efforts elicit hostile reactions and when do they produce positive results? Finally, what are the implications of soft balancing for the rise of new great powers and the international order, especially conflict and cooperation among them in the 21st century’s globalized international system?

Speaker:

•  T.V. Paul, Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Science at McGill University

Discussant:

• David Sylvan, Director of Research, Professor in International Relations/Political Science at the Graduate Institute

A light sandwich lunch will be served from 12.15.

This event is part of the  Global Governance Centre's Global Governance Colloquium series.