4 International Relations Theory of War
three polarity models. The stability of an international system is defined
through three values: destabilized system, stable system, or partly desta-
bilized system.
The multipolar systems will be the most destabilized or the most
inclined to war. The benefit of one of three or more powers that will oper-
ate in these systems will not necessarily be at the expense of the other
great powers in the system. The flexible game that will unfold between the
great powers will lead to multipolar systems becoming the least stable
or most destabilized. The strengthening of one of the great powers will
not necessarily threaten the homeostasis and will not lead to breaking
of the balance of the system. Therefore, in the case of regional powers,
multipolar systems will increase their constant aspiration for expansion
stemming from the anarchy principle. They will embark on expansionist
wars regardless of preservation of the homeostasis. Therefore, in multi-
polar systems, the great powers will wage more wars than the other two
systems.
Bipolar systems will be the most stable or most peaceful. The gain of one
of the two superpowers operating in these systems will inevitably be at the
expense of the other superpower in any given system. A zero-sum game that
will occur between the two superpowers will lead to bipolar systems hav-
ing the greatest stability. The strengthening of one of the two superpowers
will inevitably threaten the homeostasis and may lead to breaking of the
balance of the system. Bipolar systems will suppress the constant expan-
sionism of powers stemming from the anarchy principle, and they will
wage wars primarily in order to maintain the homeostasis. This means
that in bipolar systems, the two superpowers will wage very few wars
relative to the other two systems.
Unipolar systems will be partly destabilized and will find themselves
between the two other systems. The gain of one of the players acting in the
system will always manifest at the expense of the sole power, or the hyper-
power, constituting the system. A one-side-loses game on the part of the sole
hyperpower in the system will lead unipolar systems having medium sta-
bility or being partly destabilized. The strength of other players acting in
the system at the expense of the hyperpower will inevitably threaten the
homeostasis and may lead to breaking the balance of the system. Unipolar
systems will allow for the constant tendency of powers to expand follow-
ing the anarchy principle. They will wage wars only when their leader-
ship is at risk, in order to maintain their homeostasis. This means that in
unipolar systems, the hyperpowers will wage more wars than in bipolar
systems and fewer than in multipolar systems.
Multipolarity—1849–1870 and 1910–1945—was found to be the least
stable of the three systems. Bipolarity—1816–1848, 1871–1909, and
1946–1991—was discovered to be the most stable of the three systems.
Unipolarity—1992–2016 (unipolarity was measured until the end of the