Trade-off or Reinforcing Objectives? Small States and the Pursuit of Autonomy, Security and Development in the Asia-Pacific.

Economic development, military security and political autonomy are prominent concerns influencing a state’s relations with other states, especially for a small state with limited capabilities. Previous research has argued that there exists a clear trade-off between security and autonomy in an asymmetric alliance between small and large states. However, they have not considered the possibility that the trade-off between autonomy and security may hinge on the anticipated future development trajectory of a small state. It is possible that a small state can obtain greater autonomy and security in the asymmetric alliance under anticipated future development through cooperation with other small states. This paper argues that strategies for increasing political autonomy, military security, and economic development can be reinforcing for small states in the Asia-Pacific regions, due to how the evolution of relations among states in the Asia-Pacific region provides positive opportunities for small states to gain more bargain power as negotiating with great power in asymmetric alliance. The competition between major powers and the transformation of the regional order provide small states with opportunities to achieving development as well as security and autonomy through bilateral and multilateral cooperation. I propose an alternative framework to examine linkages between political autonomy, military security and economic development for small states, and how strategies for these objectives influence the prospects for regional cooperation and conflict in the Asia-Pacific region. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]