E-Books →A Theory of Master Role Transition Small Powers Shaping Regional Hegemons

Master role transition is the replacement of an active dominant master role by a dormant or inactive role located within one's role repertoire. Guimarães argues that only a combination of four necessary conditions can produce a full master role transition: asymmetrical material interdependence, altercasting, domestic contestation and regional contestation. In each one of these conditions, a small power uses material and ideational tools to promote a master role transition within the regional power role repertoire. To test his model, Guimarães turns to five case studies in Latin America, Southern Africa and South Asia: the 2006-2007 Bolivia-Brazil gas crisis, the 2008-2009 Paraguay-Brazil Itaipú Dam crisis, the 2008-2009 Ecuador-Brazil Odebrecht crisis, the 1998 South Africa-Lesotho military intervention crisis and the 1996India-Bangladesh Ganges water crisis.
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