Publication Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
8-2016
Abstract
What causes petro-aggression? Conventional wisdom maintains that the regime type of petrostates has significant effects on the likelihood that petrostates will launch revisionist militarized interstate disputes (MIDs). While domestic politics is an important factor that might explain the motivation and behavioral patterns of a petrostate, it says little about the international environment in which a petrostate decides to initiate conflicts. One significant factor that presents opportunities and constraints for petro-aggression is a great power alliance. In essence, the great power has strong incentives not to upset the relationship with its client petrostate ally for both strategic and economic reasons and, hence, tends not to oppose military adventurism by its ally. Consequently, the petrostate’s anticipation of great power inaction or even protection for its revisionist policy creates a moral hazard problem. Overall, by offering favorable circumstances, a great power alliance has a positive effect on petro-aggression. Although not without caveats, our large-n model and case study bear out this conclusion.
Discipline
Political Science
Research Areas
Political Science
Publication
International Studies Perspectives
Volume
17
Issue
3
First Page
231
Last Page
249
ISSN
1528-3577
Identifier
10.1093/isp/ekv004
Publisher
Wiley: 24 months / Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy F - Oxford Open Option D
Citation
KIM, Inwook, & WOODS, Jackson.(2016). Gas on the fire: Great power alliances and petrostate aggression. International Studies Perspectives, 17(3), 231-249.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2451
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/isp/ekv004