Karen_A._Mingst,_Ivan_M._Arregu_n-Toft]_Essentia

Advantages and Disadvantages of the International System as a Level of Analy sis 129

Theory In BrIef ConTenDIng PerSPeCTIveS on

The InTernATIonAL SySTem

reALISm /

neoreALISm

LIBerALISm /

neoLIBerAL

InSTITuTIonALISm

rADICALISm /

De Pen DenCy

Theory

ConSTruCTIvISm

ChArACTer IzATIon Anarchic

Three liberal

interpretations:

interdependence,

international

order, and

neoliberal

institutionalism

Highly

stratified

International

system exists

as social

construct

A CTorS

State is

primary

actor

States,

international

governmental

institutions,

nongovernmental

organ izations,

substate actors

Cap i tal ist

states vs.

developing

states

Individuals

matter; no

differentiation

between

international

and domestic

ConSTrAInTS

Polarity;

distribution

of power

Interdependence;

institutions

Capitalism;

stratification

Ongoing

interactions

Po SSIBILITy of

ChAnge

Slow

change

when the

balance of

power

shifts

Low possibility

of radical

change; constant

incremental

change as actors

are involved in

new relationships

Radical

change

desired but

limited by

the cap i tal ist

structure

Emphasis on

change in

social norms

and identities

As the European- based international system emerged as the most power ful and domi-

nant one, how did other regions become part of it? Colonialism and the spread of capi-

talism by the Eu ro pean powers brought many areas into this system, as Chapter 2 traced.

Strug gles persist among these dif er ent international socie ties. The po liti cal scientist

Samuel Huntington identified these strug gles as civilizational, positing that states

and state interests were being transcended by cultures, the largest aggregation of which

is civilizations. He believed civilizational diferences would become the new basis of

international conflict.^16 Thus, although the notion of one international system may

ESSIR7_CH04_106_131_11P.indd 129 6/14/16 10:05 AM