Polarity Flashcards
(10 cards)
1
Q
Polarity definition
A
- also know as world order
- describes where and how power is distributed in the international communities
2
Q
three ways polarity can be seen
A
- unipolarity
- bipolarity
- multipolarity
3
Q
Unipolarity
A
- there is one single dominant power in the world
- a global hegemony refers to a single country dominating global power
- it could be seen that since the end of the cold war, the USA is the dominant global power, but its status as a global hegemon is diminishing
4
Q
Bipolarity
A
- there are 2 main powers in the world
- for this to occur there must be a balance of power
- during the cold war, the USA and USSR were the two countries that held the majority of power in the world
5
Q
Multipolarity
A
there are 3 or more main powers in the world
6
Q
realists on unipolarity
A
- states seek power within an anarchical society
- in order to protect yourself you should seek to become a global hegemon
7
Q
liberals on unipolarity
A
- fear the idea of a hegemon
- the rise of power and the methods of doing so result in conflict
8
Q
realists on bipolarity
A
a bipolar world, and the resulting balance of power, promotes peace as a state no longer seeks hegemony
9
Q
liberals on bipolarity
A
this still isn’t enough to prevent the damage that seeking power could potentially do
10
Q
realists on multipolarity
A
- this is the most unstable system of power
- the number of actors increasing leads to increasing number of conflicts
- this can intensify the security dilemma
