International and domestic drivers of military shifts in Alaska Item Type Thesis Authors Burkhart, Peter K. Download date 04/10/2021 08:38:28 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/8711 INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC DRIVERS OF MILITARY SHIFTS IN ALASKA By Peter K. Burkhart, B.S. A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Arctic and Northern Studies University of Alaska Fairbanks May 2018 APPROVED: Brandon M. Boylan, Committee Chair Mary F. Ehrlander, Committee Member Jeremy S. Speight, Committee Member Mary F. Ehrlander, Director Arctic and Northern Studies Program Todd L. Sherman, Dean College o f Liberal Arts Michael A. Castellini, Dean o f the Graduate School Abstract Since WWII, Alaska has witnessed dramatic influxes and reductions in military personnel and funding. This thesis explores the drivers of these events. It applies two theories to analyze the trends: realist theory from international relations and the advocacy coalition framework from public policy. The thesis uses a case study framework and process-tracing to analyze three different time periods in Alaska’s history: 1) World War II (1940-1945), 2) the early Cold War era (1950-1958), and 3) the immediate post-Cold War era (1993-1999). This thesis argues that the level of international threat accounts for the United States’ decisions to increase or decrease its military forces, while the strength of advocacy coalitions comprised of a diverse array of actors determines the amount of military personnel and funding transferred to Alaska. iii iv Table of Contents Title Page..................................................................................................................................................... i Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures........................................................................................................................................... ix Acknowledgments.................................................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1: Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2: History of Military Power in Alaska ..................................................................................11 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 11 2.2 Military Presence from the Purchase of Alaska to World War II Era (1867-1939) ........... 13 2.3 World War II to Pre-Cold War (1940-1949).............................................................................22 2.4 The Cold War (1950-1990) ......................................................................................................... 29 2.5 Post-Cold War Era (1991-Current) .............................................................................................35 2.6 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................37 Chapter 3: Theory and Methodology .....................................................................................................39 3.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................................39 3.2 Realism............................................................................................................................................39 3.3 Advocacy Coalition Framework................................................................................................. 46 3.4 Methodology .................................................................................................................................. 51 3.5 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................53 v Chapter 4: World War II ......................................................................................................................... 55 4.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................................55 4.2 International Politics .................................................................................................................... 57 4.2.1 Realism and International Politics ..................................................................................... 61 4.2.1.1 A state’s interests or a threat to those interests will push a nation into action 62 4.2.1.2 These policies or actions are formed because of competition between states 63 4.2.1.3 Calculation can be used to discover the policies a country will use .......................63 4.2.1.4 Success of these policies is shown in that a state was both preserved and strengthened ................................................................................................................................ 64 4.3 Domestic Politics.......................................................................................................................... 65 4.3.1 Advocacy Coalition Framework and Domestic Politics..................................................71 4.3.1.1 The players of the coalition must stay focused and engaged ................................... 72 4.3.1.2 The actors in a coalition should come from different levels of government and utilize multiple avenues of influence....................................................................................... 73 4.3.1.3 External shocks can help generate policy change ..................................................... 73 4.4 Conclusion......................................................................................................................................75 Chapter 5: The Beginning of the Cold W ar ..........................................................................................77 5.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................77 5.2 International Politics .....................................................................................................................78 5.2.1 Realism and International Politic .........................................................................................82 vi 5.2.1.1 A state’s interests or a threat to those interests will push a nation into action 83 5.2.1.2 Foreign policies are functions of competition between states .................................84 5.2.1.3 Calculations are used to discover the policies a country will use ........................... 85 5.2.1.4 Success of these policies is shown where a state was both preserved and strengthened ................................................................................................................................ 85 5.3 Domestic Politics ...........................................................................................................................86 5.3.1 ACF and Domestic Politics ..................................................................................................91 5.3.1.1 The players of the coalition must stay focused and engaged ................................... 91 5.3.1.2 The actors in a coalition should come from different levels of government and utilize multiple avenues of influence....................................................................................... 92 5.3.1.3 External shocks can help generate policy change ..................................................... 93 5.4 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................93 Chapter 6: The Post-Cold W ar ............................................................................................................... 95 6.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 95 6.2 International Politics .................................................................................................................... 96 6.2.1 Realism and International Politics .................................................................................... 102 6.2.1.1 A state’s interests or a threat to those interests will push a nation into action.... 102 6.2.1.2 These policies or actions are formed because of competition between states .... 102 6.2.1.3 Calculation can be used to discover the policies a country will use .....................103 vii 6.2.1.4 Success of these policies is shown in that a state was both preserved and strengthened ............................................................................................................................... 103 6.3 Domestic Politics .........................................................................................................................104 6.3.1 Advocacy Coalition Framework and Domestic Politics.............................................. 109 6.3.1.1 The players of the coalition must stay focused and engaged ................................. 110 6.3.1.2 The actors in a coalition should come from different