Türkiye and Pakistan in the American hierarchical order: Alignment, crises and restoration processes in the Cold War period

This study, at the theoretical level, seeks to offer some theoretical insights into the establishment processes of asymmetric alliance relations between great powers and smaller states, as well as the ups and downs that occur during the maintenance of these relations, thereby providing a comprehensive explanation of the motives, motivations, and strategies of these states. In this context, hierarchy-oriented studies are integrated into alliance literature to offer a systematic explanation of asymmetric alliance structures. The study presents four analytical frameworks that address the factors shaping states' perceptions and influencing their behavior: the authority-autonomy balance, the balance of interests, the material balance, and the balance of engagement. The arguments in each category are discussed separately in the context of their explanations of alignment, crisis and restoration processes in asymmetric alliance relations. Thus, it reveals the dynamics within each category that drive the hegemon and subordinate states to tend toward a hierarchical alliance, the dynamics that cause crises in the alliance relationship, and how and under what conditions the restoration processes are possible after crises. At the empirical level, the study aims to uncover the causal dynamics behind the establishment and maintenance phases (focusing on the crises encountered during the maintenance phase and the processes of overcoming them) of Türkiye, a NATO member, and Pakistan's, a traditional ally of the United States, asymmetric alliance relations with the United States during the Cold War. In order to provide a perspective that enables generalizations to be made in understanding asymmetric alliance relations, the theoretical arguments developed in the study have been examined through these two examples, which hold different status within the American hierarchy. The study offers a process-oriented approach that sheds light not only on the establishment of asymmetric alliances but also on the crises and restoration processes. With a multi-level theoretical perspective and a special analytical focus on these three phases, the study aims to contribute to the hierarchy-oriented studies and alliance literature. The research findings reveal that considering the dynamics within the four analytical frameworks in a holistic approach will provide a more complete picture of hierarchical relations.