Assessing the Prospects for Great Power Cooperation in the Global Commons

Abstract

This study sought to understand where the United States, China, and Russia share interests in the global commons, what the obstacles to cooperation are, and where the United States might be able to deepen its cooperation with one or both powers. To do so, the study team drew on primary and secondary source materials in three languages, and more than 40 interviews with government officials, military officers, academics, and think tank analysts. Overall, the study yielded three major findings: Across the board, there is trade space for great power cooperation in the global commons, but it is narrow and usually focused more on civilian aspects of these domains rather than core security matters, In general, there is more room for the United States to cooperate with Russia than with China, There are significant obstacles to cooperation, including that the costs of cooperation do not always outweigh the likely benefits.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 20, 2023
Accession Number
AD1193636

Entities

People

  • Asha Clark
  • Kit Conn
  • Marta Kepe
  • Michelle Grise
  • Nathan Beauchamp-mustafaga
  • Nathan Vest
  • Raphael S. Cohen
  • Roby Valiaveedu

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Drug Abuse
  • Geography
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Military Applications
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Recreation
  • Sociopolitics
  • Topography
  • Treaties
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Asian Economic Studies
  • Economics
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space