Introduction

Abstract

Conflicts and disputes between states are normal, everyday occurrences. On the whole they attract little attention unless they are particularly serious or violent. Matters are different, however, when a dispute arises between friendly states or members of a long-standing alliance: friendly states and allies are expected to settle their differences in an amicable and mutually accepted way, this, after all, being one of the defining characteristics of friendliness or alliance. What makes the United States-New Zealand dispute over ANZUS so interesting for officials, diplomats and academics is that it deviated from the expected norm and led to an effective rupture in the relations rather than to an agreement.