What is it about?
This paper is about the how Big states and small states relate or cooperate without arousing confrontation or conflict. It gives a contrary explanation to Brantly Womack's Asymmetry framework of relationships between unequal states. We offer an alternative theoretical perspective - Symmetric Interest - to study relations among unequal states. We break from the domination-submission, divergent stakes, interests, attention patterns, misperception, and confrontation perspectives characterizing asymmetry to show how asymmetric relations in a non-external security context such as domestic or regime security engender symmetric interests and stakes to manage the misperceptions that cause confrontations, elucidating peaceful relations and cooperation. The paper uses China and Kazakhstan to test the model and make the argument.
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Why is it important?
It is important because it could aid statesmen in their relationships with either big or small states through policy direction. It would also guide further academic research
Perspectives
It's one of the best papers on the subject so far due to its alternative approach to the long held dominance of Womack's Asymmetry framework.
Thomas Ameyaw-Brobbey
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: SYMMETRIC INTERESTS AND ATTENTION PATTERNS IN ASYMMETRY, World Affairs, April 2023, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/00438200231167831.
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