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SYSTEMS BASED APPROACH (CONTINUED) – DISTINCT SYSTEMS IN IR

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International Relations-PSC 201
VU
LESSON 33
SYSTEMS BASED APPROACH (CONTINUED) ­ DISTINCT SYSTEMS IN IR
Three Distinct Systems in IR
Unipolar System implies one dominant power and it occurs when one actor conquering all others of note,
or by institutional means, or by hegemony (rule by one dominant leader through the establishment of
norms and behaviors that are acceptable in the system. Examples of a unipolar system include Roman,
Chinese, & other empires; also the rule by a central power within a bipolar bloc like USSR in Eastern
Europe or USA in the West.
Bipolar System
Two roughly equal coalitions of actors often formed around one strong actor in each coalition. Other
important actors like the UN do not really threaten bipolar coalitions particularly if they are based on
ideology.
Multi-polar System
Poles are roughly equivalent and there is a fluid and competitive system of shifting alliances. Relatively free
of ideology and run by politics not ideology. Each actor is interested primarily in its personal power and
wellbeing. There is a tendency to form counter-alliances since any one country or alliance that is too strong
is a threat to all other actors.
Another approach to World System Analysis
World Economy Perspective has 3 major components:
1
Historical development of core-periphery division of labor
2
Episodic rise and fall of hegemonic power ­ a 1800-1914: Pax Britannica
3
Gradual geographic expansion of world economy coupled with periodic growth and
stagnation
Changes in a system
Systems can be either stabilizing or destabilizing forces in international relations. Systems - even if they are
stabilizing systems - have dynamics of their own. Most systems have some sort of self perpetuating process.
Systems often are - equilibrating - that is, they respond to changes by absorbing the changes and moving to
a new stabilizing equilibrium. Sometimes systems respond to change by evolving into new systems
Factors which affect international systems are:
1
Change in the number of actors
2
Change in the power distribution between actors
3
Change in technology
4
Change in characteristics of the actors
Relevant Vocabulary
Relatively ­ comparatively
Equilibrium ­ balance
Stabilizing ­ balancing
Perpetuating ­ further promoting
Suggested Readings
Students are advised to visit the following web-pages for this lecture, which provide useful and interesting
information:
About Systems
www.jameskay.ca/about/systems.html
Table of Contents:
  1. WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND WHAT IS ITS RELEVANCE?
  2. APPROACHES TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THEORIES IN IR
  3. APPROACHES TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS:Traditional Approach
  4. THE NATION-STATE SYSTEM:Further Evolution of Nation-State
  5. THE NATION STATE SYSTEM: BASIC FEATURES OF A NATION-STATE
  6. NATIONAL INTEREST:Criteria for Defining National Interest
  7. NATIONAL INTEREST:Variations in National Interest, Relevant Vocabulary
  8. BALANCE OF POWER (BOP):BoP from a historical perspective
  9. BALANCE OF POWER (CONTINUED):Degree of Polarization, Functions of BoP
  10. DIPLOMACY:How Diplomacy Functions, Traditional Versus Modern Diplomacy
  11. DIPLOMACY (CONTINUED):Diplomatic Procedures & Practices, Functions of Diplomacy
  12. COLONIALISM, NEO-COLONIALISM & IMPERIALISM:Judging Colonization
  13. COLONIALISM, NEO-COLONIALISM & IMPERIALISM:Types of Neo-Colonialism
  14. COLONIALISM, NEO-COLONIALISM & IMPERIALISM:Objectives of Imperialism
  15. NEW INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORDER:Criticism of IEO, NIEO Activities
  16. NEW INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORDER:Prerequisites for the NIEO
  17. NON-ALIGNMENT MOVEMENT:Origin of NAM, NAM’s Institutional Structure
  18. NON-ALIGNMENT MOVEMENT (CONTINUED):Cairo Summit, Egypt - 1964
  19. NON-ALIGNMENT MOVEMENT:Criticism of NAM, NAM and Pakistan
  20. THE COLD WAR AND ITS IMPACTS - INTRODUCING THE COLD WAR PHENOMENON
  21. THE COLD WAR AND ITS IMPACTS (CONTINUED):Truman Doctrine, Marshal Plan
  22. THE COLD WAR AND ITS IMPACTS (CONTINUED):End of the Cold War
  23. DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROL:History of Disarmament
  24. DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROL (CONTINUED):Other Disarmament Efforts
  25. THE RELEVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
  26. THE RELEVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (CONTINUED)
  27. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:Need for IGOs, Categorizing IGOs
  28. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (CONTINUED):United Nations, Criticism of the UN
  29. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (CONTINUED):European Union, World Bank
  30. THE ROLE OF DECISION MAKING IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
  31. DECISION MAKING (CONTINUED):Rational Actor Model, Group Politics Model
  32. SYSTEMS APPROACH TO IR:Underlying Assumptions, Elements of the System
  33. SYSTEMS BASED APPROACH (CONTINUED) – DISTINCT SYSTEMS IN IR
  34. LIBERALISM AND SOCIAL DEMOCRACY:Neoliberalism
  35. LIBERALISM AND SOCIAL DEMOCRACY (CONTINUED):Liberalism vs. Social Democracy
  36. INTEGRATION IN IR:Preconditions for Integration, Assessing Integration
  37. GLOBALIZATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS:Advocates of Globalization
  38. THE GLOBAL DIVIDE:World Social Forum, Can the Global Divide Be Bridged?
  39. FOCUS ON FOREIGN INVESTMENTS:Pro-poor Foreign Investments
  40. CONFLICT AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION:Components of a Conflict
  41. CONFLICT RESOLUTION:Creative response, Appropriate assertiveness
  42. THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT:Global Concern for the Environment
  43. THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT:Environmental Concerns and IR, Some Other Issues
  44. HOW IR DIFFER FROM DOMESTIC POLITICS?:Strategies for altering state behavior
  45. CHANGE AND IR:Continuity in IR, Causality and counterfactuals, IR in a nutshell