Anarchy in international relations
- Anarchy in international relations
Anarchy in international relations is a concept in international relations theory holding that the world system is leaderless: there is no universal sovereign or worldwide government. There is thus no hierarchically superior, coercive power that can resolve disputes, enforce law, or order the system like there is in domestic politics.
Political scientists do not use the term "anarchy" to signify a world in chaos, in disorder, or in conflict. It simply reflects the order of the international system: independent states with no central authority above them.[cite book |last=Mearsheimer |first=John |authorlink=John Mearsheimer |title=The Tragedy of Great Power Politics |year=2001 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. |location=New York |id=0-393-02025-8 ] ]As a term of art, 'anarchy' was coined by Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson, and English historian and activist for pacifism, in his 1926 work, "The International Anarchy, 1904–1914".
The concept of anarchy is the foundation for realist, liberal, neorealist, and neoliberal international relations theories. Constructivist theory disputes that anarchy is a fundamental condition of the international system, saying that "anarchy is what states make of it". In other words, state actors seek to instill the view that anarchy is intrinsic to the international system, so that the status quo is not challenged by anyone. (Alexander Wendt).
See also
*Negarchy
*Panarchy
References
External links
* [http://wwwnew.towson.edu/polsci/irencyc/anarchy.htm Anarchy] from the "Internet Encyclopedia of International Relations".
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