Historical Perspective
International Systems
The Rise of the European
State System
20th Century Hegemonic
Systems & The Cold War
Historical Perspective
†This chapter introduces various
historical examples of international
systems. It examines
„
„
„
„
the Roman Empire
the Greek city-states
Persia
India up through the Cold
Historical Perspective
†It is important to talk about the history
of international systems because:
„ International relations has not always
revolved around the modern idea of a
nation-state.
„ For most of history, people have been
part of smaller, more localized groups,
such as tribes and clans.
„ As a result, interdependence has not
always been as important as it is today.
Key Terms
† International Systems - groups of similar
entities linked by regular interaction that
sets them apart from other systems.
„ This definition of systems is based on
several smaller components:
† entities - different actors, including states
and non-states actors, coming together in a
common forum.
† regular interaction - these actors come into
contact with one another, in trade, war, or
diplomacy.
Four Types of International
Systems
1. The Independent State system:
„ consists of political actors that claim to
have the right to both domestic and
foreign policy decisions.
„ No higher power exists in the system.
„ States in this system may work together
in a balance of power setup that defends
against a rising power.
„ Or they may establish rules of war.
„ But these all fall short of establishing a
superior power.
Four Types of International
Systems
2. The Hegemonic State system:
one or more states are clearly more powerful
and set "the rules of the game."
„ These systems can be broken down according
to the number of dominant states as follows:
† unipolar (1 hegemon)
† bipolar (2 hegemons)
† multipolar (3 or more hegemons).
„ There are other states within the system, but
they play by the rules established by the
hegemon.
„
Four Types of International
Systems
3. The Imperial system:
„ consists of separate societal units that
interact, but one of them asserts
political supremacy.
„ In an imperial system, the dominant
state is more likely to be involved in
other states affairs (such as appointing
leaders) than in the hegemonic system.
Four Types of International
Systems
4. The feudal system:
„ consist of a very diverse group of
entities interacting, including
governmental units, not all of which
became states, as well as trade
associations and merchant bankers.
Note: All four categories of International Systems are ideal or pure
types, meaning actual historical examples will have their variations.
Historical International Systems
† An illustration of the diversity of systems,
actors, and processes of international
relations.
„ the Persian Empire (ex. Imperial
organization)
„ the Greek world (ex. Independent state &
Hegemonic systems)
„ India (ex. Independent state & Imperial
systems)
„ the Roman Empire
„ Medieval Europe & the feudal system
Rise of the European Independent
State System
† Since the 12th century, many advances were
made impacting the international system:
„ the rise of literacy
„ the rise in capitalistic commerce
„ the tension between secular & religious
authorities
„ the Black Death in the mid 14th century
„ the rise of national identity of England, France,
and Spain
„ the Renaissance and the Reformation in the mid
15th century
„ the conflict over the power of the Holy Roman
Empire starting the Thirty Years' War in 1648,
ending with adoption of the Treaty of Westphalia.
Rise of Collective Hegemony
† The rise of Napoleon & his defeat at
the end of the 18th century brought
about the Congress of Vienna,
creating a collective hegemonic
system.
„ Certain rules were established by the
core members - Concert of Europe.
† An attempt to establish international rules
of conduct in the international system.
Globalization of the European
System
† 1492 witnessed Spanish and Portuguese
spheres of influence in the Americas.
† Dutch, French, and English make inroads in
the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, and
eventually in the Americas too.
†
†
†
†
Portuguese in China and Japan
British and French in India
Dutch in East Indies (Indonesia)
Partition of Africa after the 1880-1914
partition
20th Century Hegemonic Systems
† Europe’s inability to respond to a rising Germany
led to the collapse of the Concert of Europe and the
beginning of World War I.
† After World War I, the League of Nations formed in
an attempt at collective security
„ the idea that an aggressive state can be responded to
collectively.
„ The League of Nations failed with the outbreak of
World War II.
† Following World War II, the United Nations formed
in another attempt at collective security and
defense.
The Cold War
† Following World War II, the period known as the
Cold War occupied the international system.
† Communist Soviet Union and capitalist United
States were at odds with one another.
† The fall of China and the invasion of South Korea
led to a policy of containment aimed at keeping the
Soviets in check.
† Throughout the Cold War, the United States and
USSR were never involved directly in a conflict,
although they came quite close.
† This can possibly be attributed to several factors:
„ the advent of nuclear weapons
„ the bipolar nature of the world
„ the obsolescence of warfare.
Glossary List:
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
Balance of Power
Containment
Hegemony
Mercantilism
Jus naturale
Jus gentium
Revanchism
Imperialism
Review – How much do you
understand?
1. Which of the following is NOT
included in the legal definition of
a state?
A.
B.
C.
D.
a territory with defined boundaries
recognition by other states
a population
economic autarky
Review– How much do you
understand?
2. Which of the following is NOT an
example of an international
system given in the book?
A.
B.
C.
D.
hegemonic
imperial
dynastic
independent
Review– How much do you
understand?
3. The Roman empire is an example of
which type of international
system?
A.
B.
C.
D.
independent
imperial
hegemonic
none of these answers
Review– How much do you
understand?
4. The U.S. policy towards the
Soviet Union during the Cold
War, as laid out by NSC 68, was
A.
B.
C.
D.
containment.
democratization.
appeasement.
retribution.
Review– How much do you
understand?
5. The Cold War never developed
into a Third World War. Which of
the following is NOT a reason
discussed in the book?
A.
B.
C.
D.
bipolarity
nuclear weapons
the leaders of both states
Major wars are obsolete.
Review– How much do you
understand?
6. Which of the following is a
characteristic of international
systems?
A.
B.
C.
D.
diverse entities
regular interaction
boundaries
all of these answers
Review– How much do you
understand?
7. Unipolarity, bipolarity, and
multipolarity are all forms of
which international system?
A.
B.
C.
D.
imperial
hegemonic
dynastic
independent
Review– How much do you
understand?
8. Thomas Hobbes’s idea of the
state of nature is most similar to
the idea of
A.
B.
C.
D.
anarchy.
International cooperation.
autarky.
none of these answers
Review– How much do you
understand?
9. Which of the following
philosophers would NOT be
considered a realist?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Thucydides
Niccolo Machiavelli
Immanuel Kant
Thomas Hobbes
Review– How much do you
understand?
10.The modern nation-state was
established under which of the
following agreements?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Congress of Vienna
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Westphalia