How and why do hegemonic attempts to promote junior partner compliance sometimes inadvertently provoke defiance in hierarchical international orders? John de Bahl, postdoctoral research associate, explores this question by considering why Brazil deliberately defied the United States over the question of Zionism in the UN General Assembly in 1975. The case shows how subjective, affectively laden values — like pride, dignity, and honor — can push junior partners in hierarchical orders to defy their superordinates. The argument has direct relevance to today as the U.S. struggles to cultivate compliance amongst its partners on thorny issues like the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.