@article{ART003219832},
author={Hwang, Won-June},
title={A Study on the Multilateral Alliance in the Middle East, CENTO’s Dissolution: Focusing on the Autonomy-Security Trade-Off in Asymmetic Alliances},
journal={military history},
issn={1598-317X},
year={2025},
number={135},
pages={327-360}
TY - JOUR
AU - Hwang, Won-June
TI - A Study on the Multilateral Alliance in the Middle East, CENTO’s Dissolution: Focusing on the Autonomy-Security Trade-Off in Asymmetic Alliances
JO - military history
PY - 2025
VL - null
IS - 135
PB - Military History Institute, MND
SP - 327
EP - 360
SN - 1598-317X
AB - The Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) was a multilateral alliance of liberal powers that halted the spread of communism in the Middle East during the Cold War, but was disbanded in 1979 following Iran's withdrawal. However, the alliance was strengthened when Iraq, a member since 1959, withdrew from the Baghdad Pact, CENTO's predecessor. Why did the multilateral alliance respond differently to the withdrawal of some members, strengthening cohesion in 1959 and disintegrating in 1979? This study utilizes the autonomy-security trade-off to explain the causes of the breakup of CENTO, an asymmetric multilateral alliance. In an asymmetric alliance, the patron and the sponsored state each seek to gain autonomy and security, respectively, and evaluate the value of the alliance through the exchange.
In 1959, the two patrons, the United States and the United Kingdom, and the pupil states, Turkey, Pakistan, and Iran, expected the alliance to provide a sufficient exchange. However, after the mid-1960s, the United Kingdom, CENTO's primary patron, began to view the alliance as unnecessary and overestimated its costs. In addition, in the 1970s, Pakistan and Turkey did not receive any support from CENTO in their wars against India and Greece, respectively, prompting a reassessment of the alliance's value. Iran's withdrawal in 1979 provided an opportunity for the alliance to break free of its dependence on institutional pathways, which led member states to decide to dissolve the alliance. The findings of this study, which explains the maintenance and dissolution of asymmetric multilateral alliances through the trade-off of autonomy and security, have important implications for multilateral security cooperation in the Middle East and Europe today.
KW - Baghdad Pact;CENTO;Alliance Dissolution;Asymmetric Alliance;Autonomy-Security Trade-Off
DO -
UR -
ER -
Hwang, Won-June. (2025). A Study on the Multilateral Alliance in the Middle East, CENTO’s Dissolution: Focusing on the Autonomy-Security Trade-Off in Asymmetic Alliances. military history, 135, 327-360.
Hwang, Won-June. 2025, "A Study on the Multilateral Alliance in the Middle East, CENTO’s Dissolution: Focusing on the Autonomy-Security Trade-Off in Asymmetic Alliances", military history, no.135, pp.327-360.
Hwang, Won-June "A Study on the Multilateral Alliance in the Middle East, CENTO’s Dissolution: Focusing on the Autonomy-Security Trade-Off in Asymmetic Alliances" military history 135 pp.327-360 (2025) : 327.
Hwang, Won-June. A Study on the Multilateral Alliance in the Middle East, CENTO’s Dissolution: Focusing on the Autonomy-Security Trade-Off in Asymmetic Alliances. 2025; 135 : 327-360.
Hwang, Won-June. "A Study on the Multilateral Alliance in the Middle East, CENTO’s Dissolution: Focusing on the Autonomy-Security Trade-Off in Asymmetic Alliances" military history no.135(2025) : 327-360.
Hwang, Won-June. A Study on the Multilateral Alliance in the Middle East, CENTO’s Dissolution: Focusing on the Autonomy-Security Trade-Off in Asymmetic Alliances. military history, 135, 327-360.
Hwang, Won-June. A Study on the Multilateral Alliance in the Middle East, CENTO’s Dissolution: Focusing on the Autonomy-Security Trade-Off in Asymmetic Alliances. military history. 2025; 135 327-360.
Hwang, Won-June. A Study on the Multilateral Alliance in the Middle East, CENTO’s Dissolution: Focusing on the Autonomy-Security Trade-Off in Asymmetic Alliances. 2025; 135 : 327-360.
Hwang, Won-June. "A Study on the Multilateral Alliance in the Middle East, CENTO’s Dissolution: Focusing on the Autonomy-Security Trade-Off in Asymmetic Alliances" military history no.135(2025) : 327-360.
