POLI 244 Lecture 7: POLI 244 Part 7
2 Apr 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Polarity and international stability: multipolar system (~1914, bipolar system (~1950) (usa + ussr) Was safe, there was no war between the two great powers: unipolar system (~2000) (hegemonic usa) Wasn"t known how a unipolar system would work. Does unipolarity make an international more stable or instable: multipolar systems more uncertain, credibility of commitments. Multipolarity: high: clear who"s going to take charge of military matters. Multipolarity: high: too much uncertainty on who takes responsibility for addressing issues, flexibility of alignment. Bipolarity: internal (larger powers need not rely on other members for their own security) Multipolarity: external (alliances are very important to uphold balance of power) In essence, bipolarity = less uncertainty, multipolarity = more uncertainty (states are going to make mistakes, and these might result in disruptions in the balance of power) Revisiting robert gilpin"s theory of systemic change (hegemonic war: stability of an international system is determined by the relationship between:
