Alliances can serve as devices for surrendering freedom of choice

Evidence

Mutual defense treaties among strong and weak nations might best be viewed in this light, that is, not as undertaken to reassure the small nations nor in exchange for a quid pro quo, but rather as a device for surrendering an embarrassing freedom of choice. — Thomas C. Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, 712

Categorization

• XREF: The Mafia’s ‘protection’ paid to the Don similarly buys a surrender of embarrassing freedom — the supplicant commits, gaining the benefit of no longer choosing autonomously. — connects to: Trust functions as a device for coping with others’ freedom — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 1146; Coercive government power depends on voluntary cooperation from many; Cooperation requires at least one party’s essential action beyond the other’s control. (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Cooperation requires at least one party’s essential action beyond the other’s control. #expands (0.78)
• Coercive government power depends on voluntary cooperation from many #expands (0.75)
• Trust functions as a device for coping with others’ freedom #expands (0.72) — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 1146