Bandwagoning

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In realist theories of international relations, bandwagoning refers to the act of weaker states joining a stronger power or coalition within balance of power politics. The term is opposed to balancing, and unlike balancing, is a relatively new term. Bandwagoning was coined by Quincy Wright in A Study of War (1942) and popularized by Kenneth Waltz in Theory of International Politics (1979) (in his work, Waltz incorrectly attributes Stephen Van Evera with coining the term).^{[citation needed]}

Bandwagoning occurs when weaker states decide that the cost of opposing a stronger power exceeds the benefits. The stronger power may offer incentives, such as the possibility of territorial gain, trade agreements, or protection, to induce weaker states to join with it.

Realism predicts that states will bandwagon rarely, only when there is no possibility of building a balancing coalition or their geography makes balancing difficult (i.e. surrounded by enemies). Bandwagoning is considered to be dangerous because it allows a rival state to gain power. A belief that bandwagoning happens more frequently is sometimes considered to be implied by the theory of containment.

See also

• Bandwagon
• Bandwagon effect (also describes the origin of the phrase)

References

• Walt, Stephen M. (1987). The Origins of Alliances. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-2054-7. 

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