Abstracts
Résumé
Apparu au cours des années 1990 dans le débat universitaire américain, le concept d’offshore balancing a fait l’objet d’un regain d’intérêt durant la présidence Obama. Ce concept propose de maintenir la primauté internationale des États-Unis tout en gardant ces derniers à distance des conflits et des jeux de pouvoir locaux. Partant de ce postulat, nous vérifions la pertinence de cette théorie en étudiant son application au cas du golfe Persique, région dont le système de sécurité dépend grandement de l’activisme américain. Cette mise à l’épreuve empirique dévoile les nombreuses limites de l’approche quant aux aspects pratiques d’un désengagement des États-Unis de la région. En ce sens, si l’offshore balancing reste une approche séduisante à Washington, il demeure un concept superficiel sans réelle considération pour les dynamiques régionales.
Mots-clés :
- golfe Persique,
- États-Unis,
- sécurité régionale,
- politique étrangère,
- alliance
Abstract
After first emerging in the U.S. academic debate in the nineties, the concept of offshore balancing gained traction during the Obama presidency. It specifically posits the idea of maintaining U.S. global primacy while distancing it from regional conflicts and power plays. Based on these premises, we evaluate the relevance of this theory by looking at its application in the Persian Gulf, a region whose security system relies heavily on U.S. involvement. This empirical test reveals the approach’s many limitations with respect to the practicalities of a potential U.S. disengagement from the region. In this sense, although offshore balancing remains an attractive approach in Washington, it is a superficial concept that fails to meaningfully take regional dynamics into account.
Keywords:
- Persian Gulf,
- United States,
- regional security,
- foreign policy,
- alliance
Resumen
El concepto de offshore balancing que surgió en los años 1990 en el debate universitario estadounidense, ha suscitado un renovado interés durante la presidencia Obama. Este concepto propone mantener la primacía internacional de Estados Unidos, pero manteniéndose a distancia de los conflictos y de los juegos de poder locales. Partiendo de este postulado, verificamos la pertinencia de esta teoría estudiando su aplicación en el caso del Golfo Pérsico, región cuyo sistema de seguridad depende en gran parte del activismo estadounidense. Esta aplicación empírica revela los numerosos límites del enfoque en cuanto a los aspectos prácticos de una retirada de Estados Unidos de la región. En este sentido, si el offshore balancing sigue siendo un enfoque atractivo en Washington, es un concepto superficial sin real consideración por las dinámicas regionales.
Palabras clave:
- Golfo Pérsico,
- Estados Unidos,
- seguridad regional,
- política extranjera,
- alianza
Appendices
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