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THE CAUSES OF ALLIANCE FORMATION: A theory-testing analysis of the Waltian factors contextualised by Franco-German cooperation during the Boxer rebellion

Demuth, Jonas Gaute LU and Reimers, Robin LU (2022) STVA22 20212
Department of Political Science
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to test Stephen Walt’s theory of alliance formation and the factors affecting this in the case of Franco-German cooperation during the Boxer Rebellion in China. This rebellion was, in part, an anti-foreign peasant uprising at end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries; it was given official sanction by the Qing dynasty and was quickly suppressed by the Eight-Nation Alliance, the common term for a loose military association of the era’s intervening great powers, including France and Germany. The cooperation between France and Germany seems unlikely considering the enmities between the two countries at the time. According to Walt’s theory, alliance formation is done in response to the threats of other... (More)
The purpose of this thesis is to test Stephen Walt’s theory of alliance formation and the factors affecting this in the case of Franco-German cooperation during the Boxer Rebellion in China. This rebellion was, in part, an anti-foreign peasant uprising at end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries; it was given official sanction by the Qing dynasty and was quickly suppressed by the Eight-Nation Alliance, the common term for a loose military association of the era’s intervening great powers, including France and Germany. The cooperation between France and Germany seems unlikely considering the enmities between the two countries at the time. According to Walt’s theory, alliance formation is done in response to the threats of other states and determined by four factors. This analysis shows that the functionality of Walt’s four factors is mixed. Two of the factors, offensive power and intention, can be shown to positively have had an effect on the Franco-German cooperation, whilst another factor, geographical proximity, is only present. Aggregate power, the last factor, yielded inconclusive results. This means that the expectations of Walt’s theory are satisfied, though there are limitations to its functionality. (Less)
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author
Demuth, Jonas Gaute LU and Reimers, Robin LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVA22 20212
year
type
L2 - 2nd term paper (old degree order)
subject
keywords
alliance formation, Walt, France, Germany, Qing, Boxers
language
English
id
9069732
date added to LUP
2022-02-24 14:34:26
date last changed
2022-02-24 14:34:26
@misc{9069732,
  abstract     = {{The purpose of this thesis is to test Stephen Walt’s theory of alliance formation and the factors affecting this in the case of Franco-German cooperation during the Boxer Rebellion in China. This rebellion was, in part, an anti-foreign peasant uprising at end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries; it was given official sanction by the Qing dynasty and was quickly suppressed by the Eight-Nation Alliance, the common term for a loose military association of the era’s intervening great powers, including France and Germany. The cooperation between France and Germany seems unlikely considering the enmities between the two countries at the time. According to Walt’s theory, alliance formation is done in response to the threats of other states and determined by four factors. This analysis shows that the functionality of Walt’s four factors is mixed. Two of the factors, offensive power and intention, can be shown to positively have had an effect on the Franco-German cooperation, whilst another factor, geographical proximity, is only present. Aggregate power, the last factor, yielded inconclusive results. This means that the expectations of Walt’s theory are satisfied, though there are limitations to its functionality.}},
  author       = {{Demuth, Jonas Gaute and Reimers, Robin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{THE CAUSES OF ALLIANCE FORMATION: A theory-testing analysis of the Waltian factors contextualised by Franco-German cooperation during the Boxer rebellion}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}