NOT STATE AGAINST EMPIRE CYCLIC FELL: OF ARMS AND DEPENDENCE
JERMAINE SI YUEN TENG
JERMAINE SI YUEN TENG
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Abstract
Why do some states choose to exhibit a dependent relationship on their arms suppliers? In view of the trend towards a diversification of suppliers or developing a domestic arms industry in the post-Cold War era, a small number of states have conversely sought to turn towards arms dependency. Furthermore, with arms imports often being seen as generating a constraining effect on the importing states’ foreign affairs and security behaviour, why might these states willingly forgo such autonomy and control over determining their own external affairs? This thesis thus seeks to answer the puzzle of why some of these states choose to engage in such an anomalous behaviour.
In this thesis, as the title suggests, I argue that domestic political dynamics within the arms recipient state, rather than external determinants, are primarily responsible for the exhibition of dependency by the recipient states. In particular, I argue that when there is an occurrence of civil society ‘pushback’ directly challenging the ‘old elites’’ domination of the government in hybrid regimes, these states are likely to engage in arms dependency. In these cases, the decision by the recipient states to embark on a pathway of dependency seeks to address the issues of legitimacy, authority and capacity brought about by the civil ‘pushback’. Using process tracing, I tested the validity of my argument on three cases – Algeria, Mongolia and Morocco. As corroborated by empirical evidence I demonstrate in my argument that domestic political causes, rather than international or economic factors, are the main determinant in driving dependency in these states.
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2019-03-31
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