Patron–Client Dynamics and Client Autonomy in Asymmetrical Alliances

The Case of China and North Korea

Bibliographic Data

ID24237682
AuthorsJeong-Ho Lee (0009-0009-7650-5156)
Year2026
Pages1-26
Publication date2026-10-19
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEurope Asia Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0966-8136 • E-ISSN: 1465-3427
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09668136.2026.2740625
OpenAlexW7222956253
LanguageEN
References cited18

Pyongyang’s acceleration of its nuclear capability contradicts Beijing’s regional strategic interests, yet the asymmetrical alliance endures. To explain this phenomenon, this article generalises the conditions under which a patron tolerates client actions that lead to diminished patron influence. When a patron perceives a threat as high, it is more likely to tolerate diminished influence, especially when it perceives a high risk of client realignment in response to pressure. Conversely, when a patron perceives a threat as low, it is less tolerant, maintaining strict control over a client who presents a low risk of realignment. This suggests that the pattern observed in China–North Korea relations from 2018 to May 2024 was consistent with China being less willing to tolerate a nuclear-armed North Korea, while also indicating that the relationship could shift towards a different outcome if Pyongyang’s opportunities for realignment increased.

China–North Korea relations · client autonomy · Clientelism · North Korean nuclear program · regional security threats · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Korean Peninsula Historical and Political Studies · Political Conflict and Governance

Tools

Open DOI