Polarity, Balance of Power and International Relations Theory

Post-Cold War and the 19th Century Compared
1. Auflage 2017
ISBN: 978-3-319-42651-8
Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Buch, Englisch, 247 Seiten, HC runder Rücken kaschiert, Format (B × H): 153 mm x 216 mm, Gewicht: 4401 g

This book discusses the rise of polarity as a key concept in International Relations Theory. Since the end of the Cold War, until at least the end of 2010, there has been a wide consensus shared by American academics, political commentators and policy makers: the world was unipolar and would remain so for some time. By contrast, outside the US, a multipolar interpretation prevailed. This volume explores this contradiction and questions the Neorealist claim that polarity is the central structuring element of the international system. Here, the author analyses different historic eras through a polarity lens, compares the way polarity is used in the French and US public discourses, and through careful examination, reaches the conclusion that polarity terminology as a theoretical concept is highly influenced by the Cold War context in which it emerged. This volume is an important resource for students and researchers with a critical approach to Neorealism, and to those interested in the defining shifts the world went through during the last twenty five years.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

De Keersmaeker, Goedele

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Systeme Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Internationale Beziehungen Ost-West Beziehungen
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Geschichte
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Militärwesen Nationale und Internationale Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Studien zu einzelnen Ländern und Gebieten
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Regierungspolitik Außenpolitik
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Internationale Beziehungen Europäische Union, Europapolitik
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Militärwesen Militär- und Verteidigungsstrategie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Chapter 2: Polarity: the emergence and development of a concept. 8

Polarity thinking during the Cold War and after. 9<

Polarity: metaphor and scientific concept. 11

Polarity definitions in IR theory: the influence of Kenneth Waltz. 13

Cluster polarity. 15

Power polarity: hierarchic and numeric definitions. 19

Polarity and power definitions and relations between powers. 29

Polarity, international systems and international societies. 31

Conclusion: Different definitions do they really matter?. 33



PART II: POLARITY IN THE COLD WAR, THE 19TH CENTURY AND TODAY. 36

Chapter 3: The bipolar Cold War and polarity theory. 37

A two superpowers world?. 38

A polarised world: cluster polarity after 1945. 42

Conclusion: The Cold War and polarity thinking. 47



Chapter 4: The 19th century: multipolar, bipolar or unipolar?. 49

European and global power polarity: some indicators. 52<

Power polarity in 19th century in Europe. 56

Global polarity in the 19th century. 62

Great Britain and the British Empire. 65

Conclusion a unipolar world and a balanced’ Europe. 71

Cluster polarity in Europe. 72

Conclusions cluster polarity. 80



Chapter 5: Polarity after 1990, a historical comparison. 82

Some problems and omissions in polarity analysis. 84

Power polarity in the 21st century. 92

Cluster polarity in the 21st century a mixed Cold War heritage. 99

Unipolarity, balance of power and balancing. 105

Conclusions: a unipolar, bipolar or multipolar world?. 108



PART III: 19th CENTURY BALANCE OF POWER AND 21st CENTURY MULTIPOLARITY. 112

Chapter 6: The French multipolarity discourse. 113

Introduction: Balance of power and polarity, past and present. 113

The French multipolar discourse. 115

Multipolarity: actual facts and developments in the French discourse. 120

Multipolarity and stability in the French discourse. 121

Multipolarity, great power governance and multilateralism. 124

Multipolarity and regional blocs. 125

Power concepts in the French discourse. 134

Cultural power and international pluralism. 135

Conclusions: multipolarity in the French discourse. 136



Chapter 7: American hegemony, empire and unipolarity. 139

Unipolarity, hegemony and empire, 1990-2008. 139

The year 2008 as the turning point in the American discourse. 147

Conclusion and comparison with the French multipolar discourse. 154



Chapter 8: Polarity, balance of power and universal monarchy. 157

Differences between balance of power and multipolarity discourse. 157

Balance of power as an equal distribution of power. 159

Balance of power and great power status. 160

Balance of power, economic power, military force and war. 162

Balance of power, universal monarchy and (political) pluralism. 163

Balance of power and cultural pluralism. 165

Balance of power, the rule of law and the Concert of Europe. 165

Balance of power, peace and stability. 166

Conclusions: multipolarity, hegemony and balance of power. 167



PART IV: CONCLUSIONS, THE RELEVANCE OF POLARITY THEORY?. 172

Polarity as a structural defining element in Neorealist theory. 172

Balance of power and polarity in the public political discourse. 178



Notes. 181

Bibliography. 184

Index. 202

Über Autor(innen)

Goedele De Keersmaeker is a researcher at the Ghent Institute of International Studies (GIIS). She is a former director of the International Peace Information Service (Antwerp) and of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (Prague). Goedele has a vast experience of educational writing on international relations and security, with particular research interests in a historical approach to international relations.