SUN Degang with ZHANG Dandan, Diplomacy of Quasi-Alliances in the Middle East, Berlin: Gerlach Press, 2020.
ISBN: 978-3-95994-074-0 (hardcover)
ISBN: 978-3-95994-073-3 (eBOOK)
Introduction 1
I. Research Questions and Literature Review 1
II. Theoretical Hypotheses and Research Methodology 5
III. Academic and Policy Implications 8
IV. Research Findings 10
1 Quasi-Alliance: A Hidden Research Agenda of Contemporary Diplomatic Strategy 13
What is Quasi-Alliance? 13
Types of Quasi-Alliance 21
Characteristics of Quasi-Alliance 24
Functions of Quasi-Alliance 28
Summary 31
2 System, State and Policy-Making Levels: Quasi-Alliance Formation 33
The System Level 34
The State Level 36
The Decision-Making Level 44
A Process of Trade-Off 52
Summary 54
3 Between Competition and Cooperation: Quasi-Alliance Management 57
Three-Level Games 57
Four Means of Management 61
Two Types of Models 66
Summary 70
4 Between Assets and Liabilities: Quasi-Alliance Efficacy 73
Divergence of Quasi-Alliance Efficacy 73
The Objective Factors 75
The Subjective Factors 79
Summary 83
5 From Coalition to Self-Reliance: Quasi-Alliance Termination 85
The System Level 85
The State Level 88
Decision-Making Level 92
Summary 95
6 A “Meteor” Moment: Anglo-French-Israeli Quasi-Alliance During the Suez Canal War of 1956 97
The Background of Anglo-French-Israeli Cooperation 98
Dynamics of the Anglo-French-Israeli Quasi-Alliance Formation 105
Management of the Anglo-French-Israeli Quasi-Alliance 107
The Efficacy of the Anglo-French-Israeli Quasi-Alliance 124
The Termination of the Anglo-French-Israeli Quasi-Alliance 130
Summary 137
7 A Gulf Bridgehead: US-Saudi Quasi-Alliance During the Johnson Administration 141
The Formation of the US-Saudi Quasi-Alliance 142
The Management of the US-Saudi Quasi-Alliance 151
The Efficacy of the US-Saudi Quasi-Alliance 174
The Vitality of the US-Saudi Quasi-Alliance 181
Summary 187
8 A Fortress in the Sand: Soviet-Egypt Quasi-Alliance During the Sadat Administration 191
The Formation of the Soviet-Egyptian Quasi-Alliance 194
The Management of the Soviet-Egyptian Quasi-Alliance 200
The Efficacy of the Soviet-Egyptian Quasi-Alliance 217
The Termination of the Soviet-Egyptian Quasi-Alliance 221
Summary 225
9 Brothers Indeed: Iran-Syria Quasi-Alliance Since 1979 229
Dynamics of Iran-Syria Quasi-Alliance Formation 230
Management of the Iran-Syria Quasi-Alliance 234
Efficacy of the Iran-Syria Quasi-Alliance 245
Summary 247
Conclusion 249
Quasi-Alliance Theory in Diplomatic Strategy 249
Quasi-Alliance Practice in the 21st Century 260
China’s “Quasi-Alliance Diplomacy” in the New Era? 270
Notes 273
Bibliography 297
About the Authors and Translator 325
