Leverage in Asymmetrical Alliances: The U.S. Pact with Pakistan since 9/11.

This paper revisits the question of how a weak ally can obtain leverage in the context of an asymmetrical alliance with a great power. I argue that alliance leverage depends above all on the "balance of need" between security partners and each party's ability to develop alternative security options. I contend further that changes in the international security environment have provided opportunities for many U.S. allies to increase their leverage vis-a-vis Washington in recent years. As an illustration, I then examine one important contemporary case: the informal pact between the United States and Pakistan. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]