International alliance refers to formal agreements between sovereign states to cooperate in various fields. They may be primarily military in nature such as NATO or political unions like the European Union. Most countries seek alliances for the primary purpose of enhancing their effective military capabilities by combination with others. This explanation of the rationality of alliances has become a central tenet of the realism school of thought in world politics.
Modern alliances are characterized by a higher degree of interdependence, more fluid and reversible structures and a greater emphasis on multilateralism. These changes have boosted a trend toward more complex forms of cooperation among alliances, especially between the United States and China. Swing states struggle to find their place in this new reality and are often pressed to choose sides in an increasingly confrontational SinoAmerican rivalry that impacts multiple global actors differently.
In the wake of the Cold War, NATO expanded its membership beyond Europe’s shores to include Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Nato has also initiated its Partnership for Peace programme and the Membership Action Plan – or MAP – to help those aspiring to join the Alliance. This process has been accelerated by the rise of Russia and the need for NATO to counterbalance the country’s military prowess. NATO’s partners are also a source of critical expertise in fields like cybersecurity and countering cyber attacks. They are also important contributors to the Alliance’s efforts to promote multipolar global governance and multilateralism in the face of a more assertive China.
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