Description
As international studies confronts calls to decolonize knowledge and reimagine global hierarchies, this paper asks whether military cooperation among democracies can reproduce postcolonial forms of dependency. Focusing on the U.S.–Taiwan relationship, it argues that arms transfers, defense education, and alliance discourse together sustain asymmetrical structures that mirror historical imperial patterns. Drawing on mixed methods—archival research, SIPRI arms transfer data (1990–2023), and elite interviews with policymakers—this study reveals three interlinked dynamics: (1) structural dependency on U.S. defense systems and doctrine; (2) Taiwan’s negotiation of limited agency through indigenous programs; and (3) symbolic narratives that frame Taiwan as a “beacon of democracy” yet perpetually vulnerable.
The paper’s novelty lies in bridging postcolonial theory and empirical security studies, offering a framework for analyzing dependency as simultaneously material and discursive. It invites scholars to view alliance politics not only as strategic bargains but also as sites where global hierarchies are reproduced and contested. By extending postcolonial insights to the Indo-Pacific, the study speaks to broader debates about hierarchy, autonomy, and the future of international studies in an era of shifting power and decolonial critique.
