Anarchical Society Flashcards
who is the thinker behind the anarchical society and society of states theory?
Hedley Bull wrote The Anarchical Society 1977 which is seen as the founding text of the English School of international relations
Bull accepts the neorealist premise that there is anarchy in the international system, but argues that among this chaos a society of states has emerged
what is the anarchical society and society of states theory?
Anarchical society and society of states is the theory that the states of the world can be members of society despite the anarchical nature of the international system
States can cooperate to advance their own national interest but are not capable of acting entirely selflessly as liberals claim
acceptance that there is anarchy:
Bull believes that the global system is anarchical, states do not accept higher authority and therefore exist in a condition of international anarchy
But this international anarchy does not inevitably lead to a struggle for power that can only be avoided by a balance of power (as realists argue)
instead, conflict can be avoided by the existence of a society of states
In this way Bull merges the anarchy of realism and the interdependence of liberalism, therefore the anarchical society can be seen as a form of liberal realism
states can cooperate:
States have an informal understanding that insures a degree of cooperation
According to Hedley Bull states become aware that they share a set of interests and values so develop institutions and a set of rules norms and values by which they agree to be bound
e.g. the UN
states can cooperate:
This idea of a society of states allows Bull to analyse the possibilities of order in world politics
he Explores the meaning of order in social life and the roles that balance of power international law diplomacy war and the great powers play in creating a society of states
states can cooperate:
He concludes that alternative forms of organisation exist such as regional and international organisations (the new mediaevalism)
but State cooperation provides the best chance of achieving order in world politics
states can cooperate:
Society of states falls short of the idea of global governance or supranationalism because states simply cooperate as sovereign entities they do not give up power to a higher authority
However the concept of society of states can be criticised because it does not explain or account for the development of supranational bodies such as the WTO or the ICC
states can cooperate:
CASE STUDY: The United Nations
the UN is an example of a society of states
The use of veto by permanent members of the UN Security Council shows how states cooperate but only as far as it is in their national interests
Between 2007 and 2017 Russia has used its veto 10 times mostly over its intervention in Ukraine and to protect the Assad regime in Syria
Over the same period the US used its veto three times to protect Israel from censure over settlements in the occupied West Bank
states can cooperate:
CASE STUDY: The United Nations
In terms of the UN developing a set of rules norms and values reflecting the shared values and interests of states in the preamble to the UN charter there is a commitment to the protection of human rights
The UN went further in 2005 with the adoption of the principle of the responsibility to protect which requires states to protect their citizens from genocide war crimes ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity
It also requires the international community through the UN to use appropriate diplomatic humanitarian and other peaceful means to protect human rights
This agreement links to the origins of the UN which was created at the end of World War II when states agreed to not let another holocaust happen again
It therefore promotes a society of states
