International System by M Akif Khokhar. this is a comprihensive presentationon international systems polarities ans sub systems in internationsl relations

1. INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS
International System
BY M. Akif Khokhar

2. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY “SYSTEM”?
• Interactions by various political entities, but mostly states. To day the system is
global, but it has not always been the case.
• Some parts of the world did not know of other parts due to lack of interact.

3. WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM?
• International-system analysis is concerned with the structure of the system, the
interactions between its units, and the consequences / associations for peace and
war, or cooperation and conflict, of the existence of different types of states.
• Nations interacting with one an other on the global stage.
• Each nation is considered to be sovereign but some are more powerful than others.

4. EVOLUTION OF THE MODERN
INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM
• The modern international system is only a few centuries old.
• 4 key events/phases define its’evolution.
• The Peace of Westphalia (1648)
• Shifting Balance of Power (1600 to 1800)
• Rise of Nationalism (1800 to 1945)
• New World Orders (1945 to 1992 to Present)

5. • The Peace of Westphalia (1648)
• Treaty that ended the ‘Thirty Years’ War in Central Europe between Catholics and
Protestants.
• It declared that each nation could do as she wished with in their borders.
• Established states speaking for themselves and being independent of influences.

6. • Shifting Balance of Power(1600 to 1800)
• Some states in Europe throughout this period became extremely powerful and
smaller states would ban together to balance out the power in the region and avoid
hegemony.
• Example:
• Napoleon and France vs.Great Britain, Austria, and Russia.

7. • Rise of Nationalism (1800 to 1945)
• Nationalism or the belief on your nation is superior emerged as a popular idea in
the1800s.
• It allowed new nations such as Italy and Germany to emerge and also created a
sense of competition like never before between nations.

8. • New World Orders (1945 to 1992 to present)
• Following WW-II: Only two great powers remained, the United States and the Soviet
Union.
• After the fall of the Soviet Union, we are now in a new era with only the U.S.as a super
power and multiple emerging super powers

9. • Nature of International System
• In international relations theory, the concept of anarchy is the idea that the world
lacks any supreme authority or sovereignty.
• In an anarchic state, there is no hierarchically superior, coercive power that can
resolve disputes, enforce law, or order the system of international politics.
• In international relations, anarchy is widely accepted as the starting point for
international relations theory.

10. • International relations generally does not understand "anarchy" as signifying a
world in chaos, disorder, or conflict; rather, it is possible for ordered relations
between states to be maintained in an anarchic international system.
• Anarchy provides foundations for realist, neorealist, and neoliberal, and
constructivist paradigms of international relations.
• Liberal theory disputes that anarchy is a fundamental condition of the international
system.
• The constructivist scholar Alexander Wendt argued, "anarchy is what states make of
it.

11. • THE BILLIARD BALL MODEL OF WORLD POLITICS
• In this model (adopted by realist theorists) the states are billiard balls that collide
with one another.
• Sovereignty is the hard impenetrable outer shell of the ball which enables it to
withstand the impact of the collision.
• Not all balls are the same size, which is why international politics gives attention to
the interests and behaviour of 'great powers'. This model has come under pressure
due to growing interdependence.

13. TYPES OF INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM
(POLARITY)
• Polarity
• Polarity in international relations is any of the various ways in which power is
distributed within the international system
• It describes the nature of the international system at any given period of time. One
generally distinguishes three types of systems:
• Uni-polarity,
• Bi-polarity
• Multi-polarity for three or more centers of power.

14. • Uni-polarity
• Uni-polarity is a condition in which one state under the condition of international
anarchy enjoys a preponderance of power and faces no competitor states.
• According to William Wohlforth, "a unipolar system is one in which a counterbalance
is impossible. When a counterbalance becomes possible, the system is not unipolar.“
• A unipolar state is not the same as an empire or a hegemon that can control the
behavior of all other states.

15. • Bi-polarity
• Bipolarity is a distribution of power in which two states have a preponderance of power.[
• In bipolarity, spheres of influence and alliance systems have frequently developed around each
pole. For example, in the Cold War of 1947–1991, most Western and capitalist states would fall
under the influence of the US, while most Communist states would fall under the influence of
the USSR.
• According to Wohlforth and Brooks, "the world was undeniably bipolar" during the Cold War.
• Historic examples of bipolarity include Great Britain and France in 18th century from the end of
the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1715) until the Seven Years' War (1754–1763), and
the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War (1947–1991).

16. • Multipolarity
• Multi-polarity is a distribution of power in which more than two states have similar amounts of
power.
• The Concert of Europe, a period from after the Napoleonic Wars to the Crimean War, was an
example of peaceful multipolarity (the great powers of Europe assembled regularly to discuss
international and domestic issues),[34] as was the Interwar period
• Examples of wartime multipolarity include World War I, World War II,the Thirty Years War, the
Warring States period, the Three Kingdoms period and the tripartite division between Song
dynasty/Liao dynasty/Jin dynasty/Yuan dynasty.
• Classical realist theorists, such as Hans Morgenthau hold that multipolar systems are more stable
than bipolar systems, as great powers can gain power through alliances and petty wars that do not
directly challenge other powers; in bipolar systems, classical realists argue, this is not possible

17. • Today, in addition to nations interacting with one another, interest groups,
corporations , institutions, and activists (all play a role in international politics).
• The result is a continuously shifting and developing political stage

18. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND LAWS
• In order to make the modern international system organized, most of the nations
utilize international agreements and laws to provide stability.
• These agreements and laws evolve over time and in some cases require
international courts or organizations like the UN to enforce them.
• Treaties play an important role in shaping and redefining the international system.
In many cases, they reinforce laws and protect national and international interests.
• Treaties and considered as a source of international Law, the treaty members are
legally bound to uphold the agreement.

19. SOME MAJOR TREATIES
• Treaty of Versailles 1919 Ended WW-I.
• United Nations Charter1945 Created the UN
• North Atlantic Treaty1949 Created NATO in order to prevent the spread of communism
• Warsaw Pact 1955 Communist response to NATO.
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty1968 Made it illegal for new nations to obtain nuclear
weapons.
• Camp David Accords1978 Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt.
• Kyoto Protocol 2005 Regulates emissions to reduce global warming.

20. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
• Some agreements and treaties setup organizations to enforce its’ rules and
regulations.
• Two Types:
• International Government Organizations(IGO).
• Non-governmental Organizations (NGO

21. SOME MAJOR TREATIES (IGO/NGO)
• European Union IGO/1992 25 European Nations.
• International Olympic Committee NGO/1894 115 Individuals, who represent the
IOC in their home countries.
• United Nations IGO/1945193 nations.
• World Bank IGO/1945 Offers loan to more than 100 nations.
• Salvation Army NGO/1878 Runs program in more than 100 nations and has 3.5
Million Volunteers
• Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries IGO/1960 11 Nations

22. THE END