The Anarchical Society : A Study of Order in World Politics

In this, his most systematic and fundamental work, Hedley Bull explores three key questions: what is the nature of order in world politics?; how is it maintained in the contemporary state system?; and what alternative paths to world order are feasible and desirable? He argues that the system of sovereign states is not in decline and is not an obstacle to world order but its essential foundation. This third edition, marking the 25th anniversary of original publication, includes a substantial new foreword by Andrew Hurrell examining the continuing relevance of "The Anarchical Society" to subsequent developments in theory and in the structures and practices of world politics. Cover 1 Title 3 Copyright 4 Contents 5 Foreword to the Third Edition: The Anarchical Society 25 Years On - Andrew Hurrell 7 Foreword to the Second Edition: Revisiting The A narchical Society - Stanley Hoffmann 24 Preface 30 Introduction 32 Part 1 - The Nature of Order in World Politics 37 Chapter 1: The Concept of OrderWorld Politics 39 Order in Social Life 39 International Order 44 World Order 55 Chapter 2: Does Order Exist in World Politics? 58 The Idea of International Society 59 Christian International Society 62 European International Society 67 World International Society 72 The Reality of International Society 74 The Element of Society 75 The Anarchical Society 80 The Limitations of International Society 85 Chapter 3: How is Order Maintained World Politics? 87 The Maintenance of Order in Social Life 87 Order in the Modern State 91 Order in Primitive Stateless Societies 93 Order in International Society 98 Common Interests 99 Rules 100 Institutions 104 Functional and Causal Explanations 107 Chapter 4: Order versus Justice in World Politics 110 The Meaning of 'Justice' 111 International or Interstate Justice 114 Individual or Human Justice 115 Cosmopolitan or World Justice 116 The Compatibility of Order and Justice 119 The Question of Priority 126 Part 2 - Order in the Contemporary International System 131 Chapter 5: The Balance of Power and International Order 133 The Balance of Power 133 Functions of the Balance of Power 138 The Present Relevance of the Balance of Power 143 Mutual Nuclear Deterrence 148 Mutual Nuclear Deterrence and the Balance of Power 152 The Functions of Mutual Nuclear Deterrence 155 Chapter 6: International Law and International Order 158 The Nature of International Law 158 The Efficacy of International Law 167 The Contribution of International Law to International Order 170 The Limitations of International Law 172 Contemporary International Law 175 Subjects of International Law 182 Scope of International Law 183 Sources of International Law 186 The Role of the International Lawyer 188 Chapter 7: Diplomacy and International Order 192 Diplomacy 192 The Functions of Diplomacy 199 The Present Relevance of Diplomacy 202 Communication 208 Negotiation 209 Information 210 Minimisation of Friction 211 Symbolic Function 212 Chapter 8: War and International Order 214 War 214 War in the Modem States System 216 War at the Present Time 219 Chapter 9: The Great Powers and International Order 230 The Great Powers 230 The Role of the Great Powers 235 (i) Preservation of the General Balance 237 (ii) Avoidance and Control of Crises 238 (iii) Limitation of War 242 (iv) The Unilateral Exercise of Local Preponderance 243 (v) Spheres of Influence, Interest or Responsibility 248 (vi) A Great Power Concert or Condominium 254 The Great Powers at Present 256 Part 3 - Alternative Paths to World Order 259 Chapter 10: Alternatives to the Contemporary States System 261 Alternative Forms of States System 261 A Disarmed World 262 The Solidarity of States 266 A World of Many Nuclear Powers 268 Ideological Homogeneity 271 Beyond the States System 276 A System But Not a Society 276 States But Not a System 277 World Government 280 A New Mediaevalism 281 Non-Historical Alternatives 283 Chapter 11: The Decline of the States System? 284 A System But Not a Society 284 States But Not a System 287 World Government 288 A New Mediaevalism 290 (i) The Regional Integration of States 291 (ii) The Disintegration of States 293 (iii) The Restoration of Private International Violence 294 (iv) Transnational Organisations 296 (v) The Technological Unification of the World 299 The World Political System 302 Chapter 12: The Obsolescence of the States System? 308 Peace and Security 309 Economic and Social Justice 313 Man and the Environment 318 The States System and World Order 320 Chapter 13: The Reform of the States System? 322 A Great Power Concert: 'The Kissinger Model' 322 Global Centralism: The Radical Salvationist Model 326 Regionalism: A Third World Model 330 Revolution: A Marxist Model 335 The Prospects for Intemational Society 339 Chapter 14: Conclusion 343 Notes and References 345 Chapter One 345 Chapter Two 345 Chapter Three 347 Chapter Four 347 Chapter Five 348 Chapter Six 349 Chapter Seven 350 Chapter Eight 351 Chapter Nine 351 Chapter Ten 352 Chapter Eleven 353 Chapter Twelve 354 Chapter Thirteen 355 Index 357 This study provides an analysis of the problem of international order in contemporary society and of the feasibility of such alternative models as disarmament, global organization, a highly proliferated world, and a radical redistribution of power A study of order in world politics must begin with the question: what is it?