The Weaker Voice in Asymmetric Alliances. How voice opportunities affect weaker partners' choice for alliance persistence or termination

Diplomatic history provides several examples of weaker allies that take themselves out of military agreements with major powers in charge of guarantying for their security. Unfortunately, alliance theorists have barely been focusing on this empirical puzzle, assuming widely that weaker sides in asymmetric relationships take on a passive attitude. Still, we can find many cases of unsatisfied minor allies that prefer to terminate military agreements instead of continuing to benefit from the stronger side's protection. To solve this puzzle, I argue that the effectiveness of a minor ally’s voice affects its preference for the persistence or termination of an asymmetric alliance.