States, International Organizations and Strategic Partnerships

Edited by Lucyna Czechowska, Assistant Professor, Department of the History of Diplomacy, Faculty of Political Sciences and International Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Andriy Tyushka, Research Fellow, European Neighbourhood Policy Chair, College of Europe, Natolin, Agata Domachowska, Assistant Professor, Department of Balkan Studies, Faculty of Languages, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Karolina Gawron-Tabor, Assistant Professor, Social Sciences Department, WSB University in Toruń and Joanna Piechowiak-Lamparska, Assistant Professor, Department of the History of International Relations, Faculty of Political Sciences and International Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland

In post-Cold War international relations, strategic partnerships are an emerging and distinct analytical and political category critical in understanding the dynamics of contemporary strategic cooperation between states and International Organizations. However, the idea of strategic partnerships has remained under-theorized and overshadowed by the alliance theory. Addressing this clear-cut gap in the International Relations/Foreign Policy Analysis literature, this book originally endeavors to theorize and empirically test the analytical model of strategic partnerships as a new form of sustainable international cooperation in times of globalized interdependence and turbulence.

‘Over the past decade, “strategic partnerships” have multiplied in international politics, becoming a prominent tool of diplomacy. However, only few academics have focussed on these partnerships, either as concept or instrument. This book is a fine contribution to locate “strategic partnerships” in the IR literature, building on interesting theoretical and empirical insights.’
–Thomas Renard, Egmont Institute, Belgium

‘In the book, the strategic partnership is analyzed in empirical and theoretical terms as a form of cooperation between states and international organizations conditioned by changes at the level of the international system after the end of the Cold War. One of the undeniable advantages of the book is, first of all, the abandonment of the state-centric approach to strategic partnership dominating as so far in IR research. Secondly, strategic partnership of cooperation between NATO, EU, ASEAN, CAN and 14 countries is analyzed - on the one hand - as a relatively new area of IR practice, and on the other hand as the subject of theoretical thinking and as a proposed original model, which is a suggested tool for studying the practice of strategic partnership.’
——饰面的Marekś,居里夫人Skłodowska大学, Poland

‘This immense and impressive volume is a welcome and timely contribution to the study of strategic partnerships in international relations. With its focus on strategic partnerships between states and international organizations, it covers a hitherto underexplored aspect of this form of cooperation. Empirically rich and theoretically ambitious, this volume will be an indispensable reference for anyone seeking to understand the full range of strategic partnerships in world politics today and the implications for international relations theory.’
– Ulrich Krotz, European University Institute, Italy

‘An outstanding comparative tour de force on strategic partnerships across the world. It differs from previous research due to a thorough, well thought out, innovative theoretical framework used consistently throughout the 14 case studies. It includes well-documented studies on the major countries of the world and their relationships with the European Union, Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Andean Community (CAN) and the North Atlantic Trade Organization (NATO). The innovative, quantitative and qualitative methodology used is extensively explained and based on a database on strategic partnerships. An indispensable tool and deserving a special place in any library.’
– José M. Magone, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Germany