Unpacking the Target State Response to Wedging and Binding Strategies: The Case of 5G

Recent studies have examined how great powers resorted to wedging and binding strategies to persuade, incentivise, or coerce target states to achieve their desired outcomes. However, there is less research on how the target state responds to these strategies. This article addresses this gap by proposing a theoretical framework that postulates that political and economic cohesion are decisive to explain the susceptibility of target states to wedging and binding strategies exerted by great powers. Using case studies of Italy and the UK’s decisions to ban Chinese telecommunications companies from their 5G networks, we demonstrate how variations in a target state’s political and economic cohesion influence its susceptibility to external pressures. Our findings contribute to the literature by incorporating comparative politics and research on state-business relations to understand alliance breaking and strategic alignment in international relations.