The limits of soft balancing

The frozen conflict in Transnistria and the challenge to EU and Nato strategy

Bibliographic Data

ID5723935
AuthorsRyan Kennedy (0000-0003-1881-6887, University of Houston, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume27
Issue3
Pages512-537
Publication date2016-05-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSmall Wars and Insurgencies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0959-2318 • E-ISSN: 1743-9558
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09592318.2016.1151655
OpenAlexW2345127016
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited39

Both the EU and NATO have greatly expanded efforts to address the frozen conflict in Transnistria since 2003. These efforts by and large fall neatly into the category of ‘soft balancing’ actions against Russian influence in the conflict and in Moldova more generally. Given that soft balancing is normally seen as a strategy undertaken by relatively weak actors vis-à-vis a global or regional hegemon, this behavior is puzzling. The actions of these institutions demonstrate that soft balancing is a logical strategy for stronger actors when the conflict is not as salient as for the weaker actor. The EU and NATO’s desire to resolve the conflict is not salient enough to warrant a costlier hard power strategy. Recent developments in Ukraine also demonstrate the limitations of this strategy. Specifically, the application of this soft power has done little to change the incentives for separatist leaders or their Russian backers, meaning they have little ability to resolve the conflict. They have also fallen short of creating a permanent pro-Western consensus in Moldova. They do, however, augment Moldova’s ability to adapt to the challenges posed by the conflict and provide a paper wall against more aggressive Russian ambitions in the region

Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Soft power · European Politics and Security · Healthcare, Law, Governance, and Management Studies · Law · Post-Soviet Geopolitical Dynamics

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