4. Do alliances reduce or increase tensions?

Activity 1 - What are alliances?

Activity Tasks

Define - What are alliances? With a partner, discuss your ideas before arriving at a shared definition.
Mind Map - Create a mind map to brainstorm your prior knowledge about alliances. What are alliances and what types of alliances are there?
Explore - Spend five minutes searching for contemporary stories related to alliances in the news. Use Google News search engine to find a relevant story. Add details to your mind map before sharing your findings with the class.
Review - Examine the information on Slides 1-4 of the Lesson Presentation and add these details to your notes.
Discuss - How are alliances different to other forms of interstate security cooperation like collective security?

Activity Tasks

Examine - Review the information on Slides 5-6 of the Lesson Presentation and take notes on the five main reasons for alliance formation.
Analyse - In pairs or groups, complete the table on this worksheet by reviewing each of the strategic alliances. Research each alliance to answer the following questions:
1. Who are the parties of the alliance?
2. What type of alliance is it?
3. When was the alliance formed?
4. Why was the alliance formed?
5. How do they compare? Is their power symmetrical or asymmetrical?
6. Review - Which state benefits more from the alliance? Refer to Slide 8 for examples.
Discuss - Examine the information on Slide 7 and take notes on how alliances evolve. How would you describe the distribution of power in the current international system? Is this having an impact on alliances today? Can you think of an example?

Activity Tasks

Select - Review and make notes on the different theoretical perspectives on alliances from Slide 9 of the Lesson Presentation. Select the theoretical perspective you most strongly identify with. Share your ideas with the class.
Play - Play a game of Diplomacy with six others to simulate the impact of alliances on national security. You will each play the role of a major European state during WW1. Will your alliances reduce tensions or lead to war?
1. Register - Signup for a free account on www.webdiplomacy.net. You can review the instructions here to help you setup your account.
2. Game - Your teacher may setup a game for you and share the password with you. Otherwise, try joining a pre-existing game. Try exploring the FAQ here for advice.
Discuss - Did alliances help you cooperate? Or did they make tensions worse between states? Why did some states comply with alliances whilst others betrayed them? Which theoretical perspectives revealed themselves in the game?

Activity Tasks

Read - Examine this article which outlines China’s approach to strategic alliances. How does it differ from your understanding of alliances from this lesson?
Groups - Divide into groups or pairs. Each grouping should choose one of the following sources to investigate:
Mind Map - Using Padlet or a similar software, create a class mind-map exploring China’s strategic alliances with African states. Add details from each of the sources to build up your notes. Use these questions to structure your note taking:
1. Who does China have strategic alliances with in Africa?
2. What type of alliances does it have?
3. When were these alliances formed?
4. Why were these alliances formed?
5. How do these alliance partners compare? Is their power symmetrical or asymmetrical?
Review - Which state benefits more from the alliance?