Exploring Base Politics: How Host Countries Shape the Network of U.S. Overseas Bases

This book explores the mechanisms of base politics surrounding US overseas military bases in different countries, comparing their role and impact in times of war and peace. It highlights the benefits and challenges of hosting military bases, including the influence on power relations and sovereignty.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate mechanisms of base politics that surround US overseas military bases, comparing several countries across different regions. By examining cases from Japan, Greenland, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Singapore, the contributors offer a detailed and nuanced portrayal of the role and impact of these bases. In times of war, they serve as powerful projection platforms for military power, while in times of peace, they play a crucial role in deterring the emergence of both general and latent threats. Moreover, these bases are utilized to secure access to valuable resources and as a means of exerting political and economic influence on smaller and mid-sized countries. From the perspective of the countries that host them, military bases provide numerous benefits under the protective umbrella of US security, yet they can also lead to internal issues such as accidents, noise pollution, and constraints on sovereignty.

Beyond their strategic and security implications, military bases also serve as symbols of the hierarchical structure of the international system, exerting influence on power relations across the globe. As such, this book is an invaluable resource for scholars of International Relations with a keen interest in exploring the practical and theoretical challenges associated with the US's relationship with its allies. It sheds light on the complex dynamics that shape the geopolitical landscape and provides valuable insights into the ongoing negotiations and agreements that govern the presence and operations of US bases worldwide.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367637217