Post-special Relations: Strategy, Shared Values, and US-Israel Relations

• In Event: Strategic Context and Implications of the Current Middle East Conflict

Abstract

Special relations are a unique type of bilateral relationships. Multilayers of political, strategic, ideological, societal, and emotional ties make them usually deeper and more durable than any regular dyadic relationships or alliances. Yet, the abovementioned factors might unravel and the relations might become “post-special”. Could such a relationship persist only on strategic factors and how durable would it be? This manuscript argues that without the special elements which are hard to revitalize in the short term, a strategic alliance can be durable but in jeopardy due to the greater instability of the strategic world. It requires the great power to demonstrate its commitment to the small power by material means, such as arms deals, foreign aid. The small power would need to behave cautiously not to jeopardize the minimal goodwill of the great power to continue the relations. A formal alliance could be considered as a substitute to the informal alliance but this option has its limits and perils. The US-Israel relations illustrate these dynamics. They are based on shared values – both political and ideological – that are gradually eroding and declining, thus the relations might soon be based only on strategic foundations, which might negatively affect the relations’ durability.

Author

• Ziv Rubinovitz, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev