Polarity (international relations)

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: unipolarity, bipolarity, and multipolarity for three or more centers of power.^[1] The type of system is completely dependent on the distribution of power and influence of states in a region or globally.

Scholars differ as to whether bipolarity or unipolarity is likely to produce the most stable and peaceful outcomes. Kenneth Waltz and John Mearsheimer are among those who argue that bipolarity tends to generate relatively more stability.^[2]^[3] In contrast, John Ikenberry and William Wohlforth are among those arguing for the stabilizing impact of unipolarity.^[4]^[5] Some scholars, such as Karl Deutsch and J. David Singer, argued that multipolarity was the most stable structure.^[6]^[7]

The Cold War period was widely understood as one of bipolarity with the US and the USSR as the world's two superpowers, whereas the end of the Cold War led to unipolarity with the US as the world's sole superpower in the 1990s and 2000s. Scholars have debated how to characterize the current international system.^[8]^[9]

^ Jiang, Shiwei. "Is Bipolarity a sound recipe for world order–as compared to other historically known alternatives. In ICD Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy in the USA Options on the Table," Soft Power, Intercultural Dialogue & the Future of US Foreign Policy. 2013" (PDF).
^ Waltz, Kenneth Neal (1979). Theory of International Politics. McGraw-Hill. pp. 170–171. ISBN 978-0-07-554852-2.
^ Mearsheimer, John (2001). The Tragedy of Great Power Politics. W.W. Norton. pp. 44–45.
^ Cite error: The named reference Wohlforth was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Ikenberry, G. John (2001). After Victory: Institutions, Strategic Restraint, and the Rebuilding of Order After Major Wars. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-05091-1.
^ Deutsch, Karl W.; Singer, J. David (1964). "Multipolar Power Systems and International Stability". World Politics. 16 (3): 390–406. doi:10.2307/2009578. ISSN 0043-8871. JSTOR 2009578. S2CID 53540403.
^ Zoppo, Ciro Elliott (1966). "Nuclear Technology, Multipolarity, and International Stability". World Politics. 18 (4): 579–606. doi:10.2307/2009806. ISSN 1086-3338. Traditional theory of international politics maintains that, other things being equal, a multipolar balance-of-power system is more stable than a bipolar system
^ "Did the Unipolar Moment Ever End?". Foreign Affairs. 2023-05-23. ISSN 0015-7120.
^ Cite error: The named reference :9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] Jiang, Shiwei. "Is Bipolarity a sound recipe for world order–as compared to other historically known alternatives. In ICD Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy in the USA Options on the Table," Soft Power, Intercultural Dialogue & the Future of US Foreign Policy. 2013" (PDF).

[:1-2] Waltz, Kenneth Neal (1979). Theory of International Politics. McGraw-Hill. pp. 170–171. ISBN 978-0-07-554852-2.

[3] Mearsheimer, John (2001). The Tragedy of Great Power Politics. W.W. Norton. pp. 44–45.

[Wohlforth-4] Cite error: The named reference Wohlforth was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:7-5] Ikenberry, G. John (2001). After Victory: Institutions, Strategic Restraint, and the Rebuilding of Order After Major Wars. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-05091-1.

[6] Deutsch, Karl W.; Singer, J. David (1964). "Multipolar Power Systems and International Stability". World Politics. 16 (3): 390–406. doi:10.2307/2009578. ISSN 0043-8871. JSTOR 2009578. S2CID 53540403.

[7] Zoppo, Ciro Elliott (1966). "Nuclear Technology, Multipolarity, and International Stability". World Politics. 18 (4): 579–606. doi:10.2307/2009806. ISSN 1086-3338. Traditional theory of international politics maintains that, other things being equal, a multipolar balance-of-power system is more stable than a bipolar system

[:8-8] "Did the Unipolar Moment Ever End?". Foreign Affairs. 2023-05-23. ISSN 0015-7120.

[:9-9] Cite error: The named reference :9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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Polarity (international relations)

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