Do international alliances always make the world safer, or can they sometimes lead to more tension?

I think international alliances cause more tension.

Alliances result in a loss of independent decision making, leading to entrapment because often countries - specifically smaller countries - are dragged into fighting for the sake of their allies, even if it doesn’t support their personal interests. This links to the power imbalance that occurs when a weaker country sides with a stronger one, and becomes a bit too reliant on them for political, economic and military support, forcing it to help their ally regardless of whether or not they agree with them.

This links to escalation of conflict. Alliances will pressure nations into action, not because the nations’ interests are the same, but simply because they made an agreement to help each other. Which makes sense, they’re scared of backing out at the risk of ruining their relationship and reputation, but it means that countries are unnecessarily roped into difficult situations, simply because they made a promise of loyalty. And that’s not healthy.

When nations are EXCLUDED, resentment builds. They might feel targeted by the alliance…or simply left out. Powerful countries could respond aggressively, and less powerful countries - even though they aren’t an immediate threat - could grow bitter… and bitterness isn’t something that’s easy to let go of. So when alliances preclude certain nations from joining in, it can very easily turn nasty.

I don’t think alliances are necessarily the root causes of conflict - rather, security is, because when a leader feels secure, there will generally be much less aggression, and their reactions to conflict will be more reasonable. BUT I also think that alliances DEFINITELY contribute to insecurity in a lot of countries, because of exclusion and power imbalances, which is why I believe that they can be unpredictable and risky. Think of the Russian-Ukraine conflict and where it all began: Russia saw NATO as a threat when they built military bases around them and wanted Ukraine to join their alliance. Russia’s insecurity was a catalyst. A catalyst for the intense conflict to come.

Now, some might argue that alliances do more good than harm, because more vulnerable countries are protected, they promote peace, and there is multipolar stability, rather than one dominant power.

And while I do acknowledge these points, I think we should look VERY carefully at just how much more unintentionally dangerous alliances can be, before we jump to say they are purely guarantees of safety.

Thank you!