ABSTRACT
In Chapter 4, the author presents the case for examination of the strategic triangle concept. Two key questions guide the discussion. First, what sustains the triangle dynamic a generation after the end of the Cold War? One important factor would be the previous unilateralist turn in US foreign policy (the so-called US “unipolar moment”), and the establishment of a Beijing–Moscow partnership that in part was and remains a reaction to Washington’s moves. Another key factor would be what author Steven Miller calls the emerging “multilateral nuclear order.” The second question explored in this chapter is: What are the key features of contemporary triangular politics? Several factors are examined, which include the dominance of the US–China axis, the intensification of great power conflicts in the maritime realm, and the increasing influence of domestic issues in triangular politics. The research reveals that the strategic triangle dynamic remains an important aspect of international politics during the contemporary period.
