2 International System

Understanding The International System

1. Structural

Characteristics

2. Power

Relationships

3. Economic Realities 4. Norms of Behavior

Organizati on of Authority Actors Interactio n

POWER Relationships: - The distribution of power within a system affects the way that the system operates Number of System Poles

The concentration of power

Causes & effects of changes in power

POWER Relationships Number of Poles - What is a System Pole? • A Single Country • A Group of Countries (Bloc, Alliance, IGO,...)

- The difference between: a GLOBAL pole and a REGIONAL pole.

POWER Relationships Number of Poles - The pattern of interaction changes according to the number of poles in the international system. 1. Unipolar system 2. Bipolar system 3. Tripolar system 4. Multipolar system

POWER Relationships Number of Poles - 2 factors to examine how the number of poles affects the international system: 1. Rules of the Game of Power Politics. 2. The Propensity of the System for Instability and War.

POWER Relationships Number of Poles UNIPOLAR System

- When do we have a unipolar system?

• When a country achieve complete global hegemony. 2. With the establishment of a World Government.

POWER Relationships Number of Poles UNIPOLAR Are these rules applied to System Rules of the Game: the U.S.?

1. The central power establishes and enforces rules for matters that affect the system; 2. The central power settles disputes between subordinate unites; 3. The central power resists attempts by subordinate units to achieve

POWER Relationships Number of Poles Example:

UNIPOLAR System

-The Roman Empire - It has either incorporated or controlled all the societies of the world.

POWER Relationships Number of Poles BIPOLAR System

- When do we have a bipolar system? - When there are 2 equal actors or 2 coalitions of actors. - Hostility is a must. - Non-aligned actors exist

POWER Relationships Number of Poles BIPOLAR Applied to the Cold War System Rules of the Game: Period

1.Try to eliminate/fight the other pole; Ex.: The Policy of Containment, Flexible Response... 2. Increase power relative to the other Ex.: Arms Race, The Policy of pole; Containment, Propaganda, ... etc.

POWER Relationships Number of Poles TRIPOLAR System

- When do we have a tripolar system? Rules of the Game:

B

A

C

2.Try to have good relations with the other TWO players. 2. Try to prevent close cooperation between

POWER Relationships Number of Poles

U

e

U

e

Late 1960s to the late 1980s

China

R

SS

Th

- The Policy Of Linkage.

Th

SA

TRIPOLAR System

- The Triple Diplomacy - Reagan’s Flexibility (2nd term)

POWER Relationships Number of Poles MULTIPOLAR System

- When do we have a multipolar system? 1. Contains 4 or more major powers;

2. Competitive system. - A Balance-of-Power System

POWER Relationships Number of Poles MULTIPOLAR System

Rules of the Game:

1. Oppose any pole trying to achieve hegemony; 2. increase (preserve) your power; 3. permit defeated poles to regain Example: Major European Countries during the their status. 17th, 18th, and centuries.

the 19th

POWER Relationships Number of Poles Propensity of a System for - Tripolar system has low propensity for Instability & War

-war. Unipolar system has relatively low propensity for war. - Bipolar system has a medium propensity for war. - Multipolar system has the highest propensity for war. Does this mean that today’s world has a high propensity for war?