THE PROBLEM OF ALLIANCES

There are approximately one hundred and eighty states in the world, the precise number depending on the definition of ‘state’. These states do not determine their mutual relationships in complete isolation from one another, but form alliances of varying degrees of strength and, on certain issues, decide policy together. The word ‘alliance’ is not used here in any technical sense, and still less in any legal sense; it is taken to mean any sort of coordination of policy. Thus there are strong alliances such as that between Britain and the US, and weaker friendships (here also called alliances) between, for instance, Britain and Sweden, where there are fewer formal agreements but a great deal of similarity of policy. Alliance formation is not restricted to state behaviour. Alliances are to be found in all walks of life. Within the domain which interests us here, alliances are made across state boundaries and, of course, between state and non-state actors. Business firms and states often work in league with one another against other states and other firms.

An alliance usually excludes some members who, in principle, could have been in the alliance but are not. We could conceive of an alliance in which every country was a member, and it would have some of the attributes of the types of alliances we are discussing.