Essay On Polarity

885 Words4 Pages

INTRODUCTION We might say that unipolarity in the international system is stabilizing, but however what is polarity? Well, polarity in international relations is seen as the various ways in which power is distributed within the international system. You can distinguish four types of systems: unipolarity, bipolarity, tripolarity, and multipolarity. This system is completely dependent on the distribution of power and influence of states in a region or globally. Therefore bipolarity is a distribution of power in which two states have the majority of economic, military, and cultural influence in the international sphere and even regionally. Bipolarity influenced the international system for two periods, and this is seen just before World War I …show more content…

However opinions on the stability of multipolarity have differed from time to time. Classical theorists, such as Hans Morgenthau and E.H Carr, hold the opinion 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; however in bipolar systems, classical realists argue that this is not possible. Multipolarity influenced the international system for most of its history from its beginning after the Thirty Years war in 1648 through the end of World War II in 1945. Five to nine major powers predominated in the system and at that time the system was basically euro centric. This included France, United Kingdom, Spain, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Italy, United States, and …show more content…

In these current times we are living in, some have identified the United States as the unipolar state. In the ensuing years, many scholars and theorists have questioned whether the United States can remain the world's sole superpower. Some have defined U.S. preponderance as "a unipolar moment"; others have suggested that the current structure is "uni-multipolar", meaning that there are quite a number super powers in the international sphere and among this super powers there is the greatest super power of which many have said to be the United States. Regardless of the characterization, the conventional wisdom of the majority maintains that unipolarity is unstable and conflict prone, and thus unlikely to prevail over the long term. However, According to (Wohlforth, 1999) unipolarity is both durable and peaceful. The principal threat to the current structure, according to Wohlforth, is the failure of the United States to stay involved in the international

Open Document