International Relations: Why Anarchy Doesn't Mean Chaos
Realism, liberalism, constructivism, deterrence and globalization: the counterintuitive logic of how states compete, cooperate and avoid war.
Try 3 questions
1. In Thucydides' Melian Dialogue, what argument do the Athenians make to the neutral island of Melos?
- Neutral states deserve protection from all sides
- Justice requires sparing those who surrender
- The strong do what they can; the weak suffer
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Answer: The strong do what they can; the weak suffer
Athens dismisses appeals to justice as relevant only between equals in power, a passage realists still cite as a founding statement of power politics.
2. When realists call the international system "anarchic," what do they mean?
- There is no authority above sovereign states
- States ignore all rules and treaties
- Wars are being fought almost constantly
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Answer: There is no authority above sovereign states
Anarchy in IR means the absence of a world government that can enforce rules, not disorder; states can still trade, sign treaties and keep peace.
3. A country expands its army purely for defense. Why might this leave it less safe, according to the security dilemma?
- Neighbors read it as a threat and arm too
- Large armies tend to provoke internal coups
- Military spending soon bankrupts the state
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Answer: Neighbors read it as a threat and arm too
Because intentions are hard to verify, one state's defensive buildup looks offensive to others, who respond in kind, leaving everyone less secure.
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