Neorealism and the international order - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... For Neorealists, the structure of the international system is paramount and in turn dictates the behavior of states. Seeking to address how realism, a positivistic theory of international relations, explains the international order despite the condition of anarchy in the international system following the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991, this essay will explore state interest and behavior. Although the world order is inherently anarchic, the global community has witnessed no major violent conflict between the major powers. How do Neorealists explain the absence of war between the major powers? What do Neorealists say about the prospects for war? How can Democratic Peace explain the current state of relations among major powers and what does this theory tell us about the likelihood of future war? With the aim of addressing these questions and many more as they related to the current state of international relations following the demise of the Soviet Union, the following will provide a thorough, yet concise, introduction to the international system in an era of bipolarity (BMD, CH. 4-5). During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were locked in a bitter confrontation pitting two opposite poles in the international order against one another. In this period of bipolarity, state behavior was mediated by concerns regarding the stability of the international system as well as the state interest and behavior of the other major power. ...Download file to see next pagesRead More