Examining cases in which countries have attempted to restrain allies from conflict, Pressman (political science, U. of Connecticut) addresses two questions: whether alliances are formed for the purpose of restraint and how to explain the success or failure of alliance restraint attempts. The first is addressed through case studies of alliance formation: Germany-Austria (1879), Britain-Japan (1902), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-West Germany (1949), the United States-South Korea (1953), the United States-Taiwan (1954), and Egypt-Syria (1964). The second question of alliance management is explored through multiple case studies within the British-US bilateral relationship and the US-Israel bilateral relationship. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)