Knowra International relations theory International relations theory International relations theory comprises frameworks for explaining and interpreting interactions among states and other actors in world politics. Theories differ in how they understand power, cooperation, institutions, and change.
Anarchy in international relations : The absence of a central authority capable of enforcing rules across the international system. Many theories begin by asking how political order emerges without a world government.
Realism (international relations) : A family of theories emphasizing power, security, and competition among states in an anarchic international system. Realism treats security competition as persistent, unlike approaches that stress institutions or social change.
Balance of power : A distribution of capabilities in which states counter concentrations of power to preserve their position or security. Realist explanations use balancing to account for alliances and limits on dominant states.
Thucydides : An ancient Greek historian whose account of the Peloponnesian War examines power, fear, and political judgment. His account of the conflict remains a touchstone for arguments about power and war.
Democratic peace : The observed claim that democracies have rarely fought wars against other democracies. It is a recurring empirical pattern used to assess liberal explanations of international peace.
State (polity) : A political organization with a population, territory, government, and claim to sovereignty. Theories differ over whether states dominate international politics or share influence with other actors.
Liberalism (international relations) : A family of theories emphasizing cooperation, domestic politics, and institutions in international relations. Liberal theories explain durable cooperation where realist accounts expect rivalry to remain central.
Security dilemma : A situation in which one state's defensive measures make others feel less secure and prompt countermeasures. It explains how mutual insecurity can produce arms competition without deliberate aggression.
E. H. Carr : A British historian and international relations scholar known for his critique of interwar idealism. The Twenty Years' Crisis challenged theories that neglected power and political conflict.
Alliance : A formal or informal agreement among political actors to coordinate action, often for security. Alliance formation provides evidence for competing accounts of balancing, threat, and institutional cooperation.
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