Regional hegemony
In international relations, regional hegemony is the influence exercised over neighboring countries by an independently powerful nation, the regional hegemon. The relationship between regional hegemons and the other states within their spheres of influence is analogous to the relationship between a global hegemon and the other states in the international system.
The prominent international relations scholar John Mearsheimer writes extensively about the pursuit of regional hegemony in his book, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics. According to his theory, known as offensive realism, the anarchic nature of the international system, the desire for survival, and the uncertainty about other states' intentions ultimately lead states to pursue regional hegemony. According to Mearsheimer, global hegemony is an unattainable goal; instead, a state which has achieved the level of regional hegemon will then work to prevent the development of peer competitors in other regions.
Contemporary examples
Contemporary examples are often politically sensitive or arguable. Often analysis of regional hegemons are based on a specific context or perspective which renders their identification subjective. The United States is a clear example of a regional hegemon in the Americas.[1]
Other regional hegemons include:
- India[2] in South Asia.
- China in Asia.
- Brazil,[3][4][5][6] Mexico [7][8] and Argentina [9][10][11] in Latin America.
- Ethiopia and Kenya in the Horn of Africa and East Africa;[12] and Tanzania in East Africa.[13][14]
- Indonesia in Southeast Asia.
- South Africa in Southern Africa.[15]
- Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Iran in West Asia.[1][16]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 David J. Myers. 1991. Regional Hegemons: Threat Perception and Strategic Response. ISBN 978-0-8133-8155-8
- ↑ Regional Hegemony and Its Discontents: India and South Africa Compared By Stephen F. Burgess
- ↑ www.fntg.org
- ↑ www.blackwell-synergy.com
- ↑ lap.sagepub.com
- ↑ www.brazzilmag.com
- ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- ↑ Oxford Analytica
- ↑ http://www.giga-hamburg.de/dl/download.php?d=/content/publikationen/pdf/wp30_nolte.pdf
- ↑ http://noticias.latam.msn.com/ar/argentina/articulo_afp.aspx?cp-documentid=31380349
- ↑ http://www.huellasdeeua.com.ar/ediciones/edicion1/articulo%206.pdf
- ↑ Ethiopia regional powerhouse
- ↑ Frank N. Magill (1999). The 20th Century Go-N: Dictionary of World Biography. Routledge. pp. 2775–. ISBN 978-1-317-74060-5.
- ↑ Ladislas Bizimana (1999). Conflict in the African Great Lakes Region: A critical analysis of regional and international involvement. Universidad de Deusto. pp. 55–. ISBN 978-84-9830-536-4.
- ↑ Prys, Miriam (August 2009). "Regional Hegemon or Regional Bystander: South Africa's Zimbabwe Policy 2000-2005". Politikon 36 (2): 193–218. doi:10.1080/02589340903240138.
- ↑ M. A. Muqtedar Khan. Jihad for Jerusalem: Identity and Strategy in International Relations. p131-135. Preager/Greenwood Press.
Further reading
- David J. Myers. 1991. Regional Hegemons: Threat Perception and Strategic Response. ISBN 978-0-8133-8155-8
- David R. Mares. 1988. "Middle Powers under Regional Hegemony: To Challenge or Acquiesce in Hegemonic Enforcement." International Studies Quarterly. 32(4):453-471.
- William Zimmerman. 1978. "Hierarchical Regional Systems and the Politics of System Boundaries." International Organization. 26(1):18-36.