Abstrakt:
This chapter advances a testable analytical model of strategic partnerships
in IR. The developed regression model of strategic partnerships between states and
international organizations is built around a set of two dependent variables (cooperation
willingness; cooperation sustainability), four independent variables (strategic
goals convergence; strategic roles convergence; unique bonds; regularized bilateral
strategic interactionism) as well as a single intervening variable (trust). The model-
-underlying theory suggests that strategic partnerships are a product of the intertwined
cooperation willingness and cooperation sustainability factors, with trust intervening
as a salient factor in the process of cooperation. This means that the increase
in cooperation willingness and cooperation sustainability will result in the increase
of strategic partnership substantiality. This chapter theoretically contextualizes, conceptualizes
and operationalizes the main seven variables, as well as develops a set of
applicable qualitative and quantitative indicators and measures.