Trust and hedging in international relations /

Stiles (Brigham Young) addresses the issue of trust and the role it plays in international relations. His work adds to the literature by developing an operational definition of trust using states' hedging strategies in order to assess the degree of trust between them. Stiles measures trust using eight dimensions grouped under three different topics: trustor-trustee relationship, issues in play, and structure of agreements. The author tests his definition of trust by first examining the European microstates of Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco, and Andorra, states the author considers most likely cases of trust. The author finds that while the states do share interests, they do not trust each other based on broader definitions of trust; rather the relationships are based on thorough risk assessment, and arrangements between states are contingent on numerous factors. The author also includes brief case studies examining asymmetrical relationships of major powers including the US, Russia, and China, and finds that cultural, ethnic, and ideological similarities are key to trust-building among states, and that trust can be risky to the weaker state as well as to the great power. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students through professionals. --Michelle Lorene Keck, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley