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Table 2.2 gives an overview of these concepts as
16 Keohane and Nye, Power and Interdependence, pp. 12-13.
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heuristic constructs. Relying on the assumptions of complex interdependence, placement in the various boxes will differ with issue area and situation. In addition, it is possible to move between the boxes as circumstances change. An entity would have to be perfectly insensitive and invulnerable in order to not be interdependent at all. In addition, it must be somewhat sensitive and can be slightly (if temporarily) vulnerable, to retain dominance or leadership in any issue area, such as economic relations, military affairs or information flows and exchanges.
Table 2.2
How To Recognize Relative Sensitivity and Vulnerability Sensitive Insensitive
Vulnerable Open to constant political and societal
changes; possibly
imposed from the
outside
Cut off from others by choice, but sometimes forced to react to globalization processes17
Invulnerab le
Feels pressure to change, but no
immediate change necessary
Has
choices/alternatives Has time to react
Perfectly
hegemonic/imperialistic; not affected by choices others make; has numerous alternatives that are quickly implemented
Where does the United States fit into the above matrix? Recognizing that, according to the concept of
17 This might happen in an instance where there is an
intransigent dictator who is on the verge of collapse, but refuses to admit defeat, i.e. Adolf Hitler, Kim II Sung of North Korea, or Saddam Hussein.
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interdependence, the answer to this question would depend on the issue area being examined, the United States is not so completely integrated into an interdependent world that it must react to every action by another actor. Yet, it is sensitive, even if slightly, to events and situations going on in other parts of the world.18 It is not as vulnerable as other countries since, in many cases, it seems to have a an array of policy options and can choose according to the situation, often with near impunity.
It is important to remember that interdependence does
not mean equality. *The capacity of some individuals or groups to shape directly how . . . conceptual systems are formed and used by others is fundamentally important. . ,"19 There must be someone in control in order for the
interdependent relationships to exist. Interdependence, therefore, is more than mutual dependence which connotes perfect (or near perfect) symmetry between actors in the relationship. It is also more than dependence, which
envisions a satisfactory outcome for one actor requiring acceptable developments elsewhere.20 It is also different from imperialistic tendencies, which may be seen as
18 Witness, for example, the fluctuation of US stock markets
in reaction to markets throughout the world as seen in the Asian financial crisis which began in the fall of 1997.
19 Comor, Edward A. 'Governance and the Commoditization of
Information" Global Governance 4, no. 2 (Spring 1998):222.
20 Jones and Willetts. Interdependence on Trial, p. 8.
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interdependence gone awry: one actor is dictating the terms of the relationship. If relative dependence is seen as a spectrum (see Figure 2.1), true interdependence, then, finds itself someplace between mutual dependence and imperialism. Figure 2.1 — Spectrum of Relative Dependence
Dependence^Mutual Dependence<~>Interdependence*_Mmperialism or Hegemony
Often, interdependent relationships are assumed to
benefit every participant - interdependence is something good and positive. This is known as symmetrical
interdependence. This positive relationship does not reflect reality. Jones believes that 'most significant instances of manifest interdependence are asymmetrical and imbalanced."21 Indeed, 'it is possible for [a] . . . relationship to
involve a relatively trivial sensitivity dependence in one direction, but a critical dependence, of high vulnerability, in the other."22
Thus, another important concept is that of asymmetry.