How and why does anarchy influence the behaviour of states?
How and why does anarchy influence the behaviour of states?
Helen Milner suggests that “In much current theorizing, anarchy has once again been declared to be the fundamental assumption about international politics. Over the last decade, numerous scholars, especially those in the neo-realist tradition, have posited anarchy as the single most important characteristic underlying international relations.” (1991, 67). This is a key piece of information when trying to understand how states react to a condition of anarchy. Firstly it shows us that scholars and states view anarchy to be a top rating factor in influencing their decisions on the international stage. Secondly it helps us to identify where the belief and assumption that states operate in a condition of anarchy comes from, that is those who follow the realist school of thought or more directly those in the neo-realist tradition. To understand how and why anarchy affects states we must understand where the idea comes from. The belief that states operate in a state of anarchy came first from realism which emerged around the time of the Second World War, however some scholars will argue that some of its theories were based in writings much earlier, in such books like Sun Tzu’s ‘Art of war’ (476-221 BC). The realist theories of international relations are split into three main sub theories. These are classical realism, Liberal realism otherwise known as the English school of thought and Neorealism sometimes called structural realism. The main realism that focuses on international relations operating in a state of anarchy are that of the classic view and neorealist’s, in fact while the English school accepts that there is no higher authority above the state they claim that a system of an international society or society of states, this is expressed in Hedley Bull’s The Anarchical Society, which is the main drawing point of the English schools principles. The security dilemma best taken up by the classic realists
Helen Milner suggests that “In much current theorizing, anarchy has once again been declared to be the fundamental assumption about international politics. Over the last decade, numerous scholars, especially those in the neo-realist tradition, have posited anarchy as the single most important characteristic underlying international relations.” (1991, 67). This is a key piece of information when trying to understand how states react to a condition of anarchy. Firstly it shows us that scholars and states view anarchy to be a top rating factor in influencing their decisions on the international stage. Secondly it helps us to identify where the belief and assumption that states operate in a condition of anarchy comes from, that is those who follow the realist school of thought or more directly those in the neo-realist tradition. To understand how and why anarchy affects states we must understand where the idea comes from. The belief that states operate in a state of anarchy came first from realism which emerged around the time of the Second World War, however some scholars will argue that some of its theories were based in writings much earlier, in such books like Sun Tzu’s ‘Art of war’ (476-221 BC). The realist theories of international relations are split into three main sub theories. These are classical realism, Liberal realism otherwise known as the English school of thought and Neorealism sometimes called structural realism. The main realism that focuses on international relations operating in a state of anarchy are that of the classic view and neorealist’s, in fact while the English school accepts that there is no higher authority above the state they claim that a system of an international society or society of states, this is expressed in Hedley Bull’s The Anarchical Society, which is the main drawing point of the English schools principles. The security dilemma best taken up by the classic realists
Bibliography: Brown, Chris (2009). Understanding International Relations. Basingstoke: Palgrave. pp. 48–52. Bull, Hedley (1977). The Anarchical Society: A Study of Order in World Politics. London: Macmillan. Herz, J. “Idealist Internationalism and the Security Dilemma” World Politics vol. 2, no.2 (1950): 171-201, at p.157 (Published by Cambridge University Press) Milner, H. (1991). The assumption of anarchy in international relations theory: a critique*, review of international studies. Pp, 67-85. Went, A. (1992), Anarchy is what States make of it: The Social Construction of Power Politics, International Organization, pp. [391] of 391-425