Regional order requires perceived cultural kinship with the dominant state.

Evidence

A world in which core states play a leading or dominating role is a spheres-of influence world. But it is also a world in which the exercise of influence by the core state is tempered and moderated by the common culture it shares with member states of its civilization. Cultural commonality legitimates the leadership and order-imposing role of the core state for both member states and for the external powers and institutions. It is thus futile to do as U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali did in 1994 and promulgate a rule of “sphere of influence keeping” that no more than one-third of the U.N. peacekeeping force should be provided by the dominant regional power. Such a requirement defies the geopolitical reality that in any given region where there is a dominant state peace can be achieved and maintained only through the leadership of that state. The United Nations is no alternative to regional power, and regional power becomes responsible and legitimate when exercised by core states in relation to other members of their civilization. — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 423 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: States co-opt evolved kin and in-group tendencies to manufacture devoted actors. — Scott Atran, The Devoted Actor: Unconditional…, 27; Shared culture legitimates a dominant state’s leadership over its region — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 423; Cultural kinship, not merely power balance, prevents hegemonic war between great powers — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 559 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Shared culture legitimates a dominant state’s leadership over its region #expands (0.92) — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 423