Deterrence-Reassurance Tradeoff: A Theory of Alliance Termination

• In Event: Deterrence: Theories, Strategies, and Approaches by Great Powers

Brief Overview

Why do protégés end asymmetric alliances in peacetime without power shifts? A signaling game on the deterrence–reassurance tradeoff (with offense/defense indistinguishability) shows fear of abandonment drives protégé-initiated termination.

Author

• Will Kielm, University of Chicago