Syria and Iran have formed a special relation in the past four decades. While researchers of international relations have probed deeply into alliance theory in the past half century, current literature in this field c...Syria and Iran have formed a special relation in the past four decades. While researchers of international relations have probed deeply into alliance theory in the past half century, current literature in this field can hardly explain the informal mechanism for Syria-Iran security cooperation. To unravel the puzzle, this paper attempts to put forward a new hypothesis： quasi-alliance. Based on an empirical study of Syria-Iran special relations in the past four decades, it reveals that quasi-alliance is a unique model for security cooperation in international arena paralleling with formal alliance, and its security arrangement has an unique logic, dynamics, mode of management and attributes. In the new framework of analysis, this paper touches down upon the origins, channels, features and tests of Syria-Iran quasi-alliance by focusing on the diplomatic history of their bilateral relations from 1979 to 2017. The bilateral quasi-alliance practice has undergone three stages of combating Iraqi aggression in 1980s, curbing Israel-Turkey axis in 1990s and balancing U.S.-Israel-Saudi-Turkey coalition in the 21st century, particularly since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.展开更多
It is universally acknowledged that while students of International Relations have probed deeply into alliance theory in the past half century,current literature in this field can hardly explain the informal mechanism...It is universally acknowledged that while students of International Relations have probed deeply into alliance theory in the past half century,current literature in this field can hardly explain the informal mechanism for Syria-Iran Security Cooperation.To unravel the puzzle,this paper proposes a new hypothesis:Quasi-alliance.Based on an empirical study of Syria-Iran relations in the past three decades,it reveals that Quasi-alliance is a unique mode for security cooperation in international arena paralleling with formal alliance,and its security arrangement has unique logic,dynamics,mode of management and attributes.In the new framework of analysis,this paper considers the fundamental characteristics of Quasi-alliance formation,management,efficacy and prospect by focusing on the empirical study of the Syria-Iran Quasi-alliance from 1979 to 2009.The bilateral Quasi-alliance practice has undergone three stages of combating Iraqi aggression in the 1980s,curbing the Israel-Turkey Axis in 1990s and balancing the US-Israel coalition in the 21st century.展开更多
This article is set to investigate the special relations between the Soviet Union and Egypt in early Sadat administration, 1971-1974. The Soviet-Egypt special relations were based on three factors-international system...This article is set to investigate the special relations between the Soviet Union and Egypt in early Sadat administration, 1971-1974. The Soviet-Egypt special relations were based on three factors-international system, states, and decision-makers. From the perspective of international system, since U.S. and Israel were the status quo powers, and the Soviet Union and Egypt were the revisionist countries that aimed to challenge such an unfavorable power structure, Moscow and Cairo were forced to form a coalition; from the national level, the pursuit of common security instead of economic interests became the important factor of promoting Soviet-Egypt special relations; from the decision-making level, the Soviet leaders viewed Egypt as the bridgehead to expand her interests in the Middle East. Likewise, Sadat acknowledged that the Soviet Union was the main source of obtaining advanced weapons on the one hand, but meanwhile was concerned that the Soviet Union could manipulate Egyptian leadership and may interfere in the internal affairs of Sadat administration. In fact, the two governments’ elites established asymmetrical special relations based on expediency and convenience, and hence such special relations were doom to fall apart with the shuttle diplomacy of Henry Kissinger, the US Secretary of State in late 1973.展开更多
The relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel have become increasingly public after the Trump administration took office in the US.Particularly,Saudi Arabia either holds inconsistent,ambiguous attitudes or gives short...The relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel have become increasingly public after the Trump administration took office in the US.Particularly,Saudi Arabia either holds inconsistent,ambiguous attitudes or gives short shrift to sensitive issues such as Jerusalem issue and the‘Deal of the Century.’Moreover,Saudi Arabia and Israel have been interacting with each other frequently in a public and official way,which further embodies this change in their relationship.The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel has a long history,and it has experienced four development stages:mutual isolation,secret contact,open contact,and intimate contact.The changes in the current Saudi-Israeli relations have realistic interests,open interaction,and practical cooperation.The changes in the Saudi-Israeli relations have taken place under the combined effect of the realistic logic of the common political and security dilemma,the transformation of their respective diplomatic strategies and the complementary economic advantages of both sides,as well as the overall environmental changes in the Middle East,the overall fragmentation of the Arab world,and the ups and downs of the US Middle East policy.Saudi Arabia and Israel have formed an anti-Iranian quasialliance,which has certain actual or potential impacts.In the long run,although the changes in the Saudi-Israeli relations are conducive to bilateral cooperation and development in diverse fields,they bring no advantage to the overall stability of the Arab world,and the contradictions within the Arab world will further deepen,which,for example,is represented by a breakthrough in diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE,Bahrain,Sudan,and Morocco.Besides,geostrategic competition in the Middle East will become more intense and will not contribute to the Middle East peace process.展开更多
文摘Syria and Iran have formed a special relation in the past four decades. While researchers of international relations have probed deeply into alliance theory in the past half century, current literature in this field can hardly explain the informal mechanism for Syria-Iran security cooperation. To unravel the puzzle, this paper attempts to put forward a new hypothesis： quasi-alliance. Based on an empirical study of Syria-Iran special relations in the past four decades, it reveals that quasi-alliance is a unique model for security cooperation in international arena paralleling with formal alliance, and its security arrangement has an unique logic, dynamics, mode of management and attributes. In the new framework of analysis, this paper touches down upon the origins, channels, features and tests of Syria-Iran quasi-alliance by focusing on the diplomatic history of their bilateral relations from 1979 to 2017. The bilateral quasi-alliance practice has undergone three stages of combating Iraqi aggression in 1980s, curbing Israel-Turkey axis in 1990s and balancing U.S.-Israel-Saudi-Turkey coalition in the 21st century, particularly since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.
基金supported by the National Social Science Foundation Project“Quasi-alliance Diplomacy and China’s Security Strategy”(07CGJ003)financed by Fund for Stage III of SHISU“211”Project operated by the Ministry of Education,PRC.
文摘It is universally acknowledged that while students of International Relations have probed deeply into alliance theory in the past half century,current literature in this field can hardly explain the informal mechanism for Syria-Iran Security Cooperation.To unravel the puzzle,this paper proposes a new hypothesis:Quasi-alliance.Based on an empirical study of Syria-Iran relations in the past three decades,it reveals that Quasi-alliance is a unique mode for security cooperation in international arena paralleling with formal alliance,and its security arrangement has unique logic,dynamics,mode of management and attributes.In the new framework of analysis,this paper considers the fundamental characteristics of Quasi-alliance formation,management,efficacy and prospect by focusing on the empirical study of the Syria-Iran Quasi-alliance from 1979 to 2009.The bilateral Quasi-alliance practice has undergone three stages of combating Iraqi aggression in the 1980s,curbing the Israel-Turkey Axis in 1990s and balancing the US-Israel coalition in the 21st century.
文摘This article is set to investigate the special relations between the Soviet Union and Egypt in early Sadat administration, 1971-1974. The Soviet-Egypt special relations were based on three factors-international system, states, and decision-makers. From the perspective of international system, since U.S. and Israel were the status quo powers, and the Soviet Union and Egypt were the revisionist countries that aimed to challenge such an unfavorable power structure, Moscow and Cairo were forced to form a coalition; from the national level, the pursuit of common security instead of economic interests became the important factor of promoting Soviet-Egypt special relations; from the decision-making level, the Soviet leaders viewed Egypt as the bridgehead to expand her interests in the Middle East. Likewise, Sadat acknowledged that the Soviet Union was the main source of obtaining advanced weapons on the one hand, but meanwhile was concerned that the Soviet Union could manipulate Egyptian leadership and may interfere in the internal affairs of Sadat administration. In fact, the two governments’ elites established asymmetrical special relations based on expediency and convenience, and hence such special relations were doom to fall apart with the shuttle diplomacy of Henry Kissinger, the US Secretary of State in late 1973.
基金This essay is sponsored by the program‘Evolution of Middle East Politics and Momentous Changes Unseen in A Century’(Shanghai International Studies University).
文摘The relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel have become increasingly public after the Trump administration took office in the US.Particularly,Saudi Arabia either holds inconsistent,ambiguous attitudes or gives short shrift to sensitive issues such as Jerusalem issue and the‘Deal of the Century.’Moreover,Saudi Arabia and Israel have been interacting with each other frequently in a public and official way,which further embodies this change in their relationship.The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel has a long history,and it has experienced four development stages:mutual isolation,secret contact,open contact,and intimate contact.The changes in the current Saudi-Israeli relations have realistic interests,open interaction,and practical cooperation.The changes in the Saudi-Israeli relations have taken place under the combined effect of the realistic logic of the common political and security dilemma,the transformation of their respective diplomatic strategies and the complementary economic advantages of both sides,as well as the overall environmental changes in the Middle East,the overall fragmentation of the Arab world,and the ups and downs of the US Middle East policy.Saudi Arabia and Israel have formed an anti-Iranian quasialliance,which has certain actual or potential impacts.In the long run,although the changes in the Saudi-Israeli relations are conducive to bilateral cooperation and development in diverse fields,they bring no advantage to the overall stability of the Arab world,and the contradictions within the Arab world will further deepen,which,for example,is represented by a breakthrough in diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE,Bahrain,Sudan,and Morocco.Besides,geostrategic competition in the Middle East will become more intense and will not contribute to the Middle East peace process.
